Fifth Sunday of Easter.

My Dear Parishioners,
 
Today is the Lord’s Day and the Fifth Sunday of Easter. In our continuous reading of Acts of the Apostles we come to chapter 14 where we find Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey strengthening the faith of the believers, “…They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’” The Apostles were continuously building up the faith of the early Christians and reminding them that following the Risen Christ would have its challenges. Love would be the key that would provide the assistance one would need to navigate through such times. Love for God and love for others would result in a new way of conquering the forces of evil.
 
Today’s Gospel periscope takes us back to the evening of the Last Supper where we hear the Lord’s words to His Apostles, “ I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love becomes the criterion by which the followers of Jesus are identified. It is what sets them apart in the world.
 
Many times Christians have failed in being agents of love. We are all too familiar with our own failures in loving as Jesus loved. The failures of the past however, do not exclude us from responding positively to the daily opportunities we have to try again, that is to love as Jesus loved. This is the encouragement we receive today from the Scriptures which are proclaimed at our Eucharistic celebration.
 
Encouraging and strengthening one another to love as Jesus loved is what Paul and Barnabas did for their fellow Christians. Likewise, we too are reminded to do the same today. We need to use every opportunity to give of ourselves in service to one another. When we help each other and those whom we do not know we witness to Christ and the forces of evil at put to flight.
 
As your pastor, I find my spirit strengthened as I notice so many of you being generous and compassionate in your words and deeds. It’s easy to see the love you have for the Lord Jesus because it is shown so beautifully in the ways in which you respond to the needs which are presented.
 
Let us continue to encourage one another to love more zealously. By doing so the Kingdom of God will be ours!
 
Christ is Risen!
Father Zig
 
PS: I leave on Wednesday with a group of parishioners on our St. Cecilia trip to Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria. We return on Friday, May 6th. Remember us in your prayers as I will do the same for you!