God Reveals Himself to His Friends as Love. The central theme of this Sunday comes first from the second reading. God is love and whoever loves is his child. The gospel continues this theme by reminding us of the one commandment given by the Master: a love that makes us brothers and sisters of each other and of his. The first reading is related to this: God has no favourites. He blesses all who practice justice.

Entrance Ant.

Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard; proclaim to the ends of the earth: the Lord has freed his people, alleluia

FIRST READING

“The gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out even on the Gentiles.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:25-26.34-35.44-48)

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can any one forbid water for baptising these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 98: I .2-3ab.3cd-4 (R. cf. 2)

R/. The Lord has shown his deliverance to the nations.
Or: Alleluia.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation. R.

The Lord has made known his salvation,
has shown his deliverance to the nations.
He has remembered his merciful love
and his truth for the house of Israel. R.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song,
and sing out your praise. R.

SECOND READING

“God is love.”
A reading from tire first Letter of Saint John (1 John 4:7- 10)

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELU IA John 14:23

Alleluia. If a man loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 15:9- 17)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

God is love

PRIEST: My brothers and sisters, Jesus has called us to love one another as he has loved us. We make our petitions for our world to God our Father, who is infinite love.

READER: FOR THE CHURCH, (pause), may all Christians live up to the Lord’s commandment, and in this way show forth to the world in word and deed the Church’s care and concern for everyone. (pause), Lord, hear us, in your love for us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR ALL CHRISTIAN LEADERS, (pause), may the seek an end to their divisions, not trusting in their own efforts alone, but in the Spirit of God’s love moving among them, as they are guided into the fullness of truth and unity. (pause), Lord, hear us, in your love for us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOOK AFTER THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, (pause), may those who look after the old, the infirm, the terminally ill, the poor, the homeless and others in need of assistance be encouraged to continue their great work by our prayers and practical help. (pause), Lord, hear us, in your love for us we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT BAPTIZED, (pause), just as Peter recognized the Spirit at work in Cornelius and his household, may we appreciate that God’s Spirit is not confined to his Church, but is to be found wherever people seek sincerely to do his will. (pause), Lord, hear us, in your love for us we pray Oh Lord.

We pray in silence for our own needs to God, who loves us as a Father.

PRIEST: Father, because you are love itself, we trust that you will answer our petitions. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

The central theme that runs through all today’s readings is that of God’s superabundant love for humanity. In this love of God, poured out for all mankind, no one is left out; there is a universal inclusion of all races, peoples, and tongues in the salvation wrought for us by Christ’s death and resurrection. According to St Peter, addressing the household of Cornelius in the first reading, “God has no favorites, but anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” St Augustine says that the love of God for us made manifest in Christ is “inexpressibly marvelous and marvelously inexpressible”. O God of love, renew in us the love we have wasted and may the water of our rebirth fill us with Your love!

Personal Devotional: Day 9 May Devotion

The Truth is, our Mother Mary is the Mother of Jesus who is the truth. Whoever knows the truth shall always be set free. We cannot know the truth if we avoid opportunities that will make us to become friends with and of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will teach us the truth as He taught our Mother Mary and when we have the truth in us we will be able to teach those who do not know about Jesus the truth to come and know Him.

Meditation: 

John 16:12-15

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to know you deeply as our Mother Mary did so that I will be able to teach the world about you who is the way, the truth and life. Amen. And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May Devotion

Catholic May Devotion