Sunday, May 15th 2022 | By Rev. Michael P. Hanifin
Today’s readings on this fifth Sunday of Easter contain inspiring but challenging messages for us Catholic Christians.
The Gospel from Saint John includes this well-known verse: “My children…I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
What a succinct description of the life. It sounds so simple. But simple does not necessarily mean easy.
How exactly is Jesus Calling us to love? As He, Himself loved. Jesus loved (and loves) by serving us and by making a sacrifice of His very life for us. That is a tall order.
Living a life of service and self-sacrifice is not easy because it requires us to continuously fight against our selfish inclinations. The more we empty ourselves of “self” by serving others, the more we make room in our hearts for God to pour His grace into us. Amazingly, the more we give our lives away to others, the more He fills us up with Himself who is love itself.
And amid the inevitable challenging moments this way of life entails we can be assured that the Lord who loves us so much, who died for us, and established the Eucharist to be our strength and nourishment, is right here with us every step of the way. As we face the hardships we encounter with living as Catholic Christians, we can continue to rejoice in the wonder of the Resurrection this Easter season, finding great joy in following in our Lord’s footsteps and in loving the way that Jesus loves.