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Sixth Sunday of Easter
Gospel: (John 15:9-17)
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might b
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Gospel: (John 15:9-17)
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you….I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard frommy Father. It was not you who choose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
Reflection:
The Gospel boils down to something really quite simple: Remain in Jesus’ love… “Abide in me as I abide in you”…keep the commandments, love one another. Yes, the command is simple, but the demand is imposing: lay down our lives. Keeping God’s commandments is laying down our lives—we surrender our will to doing God’s will and in this is the dying. Caring for and reaching out to others is laying down our lives—also a dying. Doing little things every day, not because we have to but because we see the other as the beloved of God, is dying. We choose all these and other ways of dying because we know this is the cost of discipleship; this is why we need the gift of the Spirit; this is why we prepare for Pentecost. (Living Liturgy, p.132)
Vincentian Meditation:
St. Vincent was a great inspiration to Frederic Ozanam in his life, work and writings. For Vincent, however, and for Frederic, it was the charity of Christ which pressed them on to do what they did for the poor of their time. Itis a mystery how God could love mankind, disfigured by sin and infidelity. Likewise, it is a mystery of God that you, as members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, are able to love people who are disfigured by the effects of poverty and injustice, and who are often so unattractive in their poverty. As you work for and visit the poor, take heart from the thought that you are reflecting into this dark world the light and the love of God. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.68)
Opening Prayer for Society Meetings:
L: In the Name of the Father, etc.
All: Amen.
L: Come, Holy Spirit, live within our lives.
All: And strengthen us by Your Love.
L: Send forth your spirit and new life will be created.
All: And the whole face of the earth will be renewed.
L: Our Father, etc.
All: Give us this day our daily bread, etc.
L:
Opening Prayer for Society Meetings:
L: In the Name of the Father, etc.
All: Amen.
L: Come, Holy Spirit, live within our lives.
All: And strengthen us by Your Love.
L: Send forth your spirit and new life will be created.
All: And the whole face of the earth will be renewed.
L: Our Father, etc.
All: Give us this day our daily bread, etc.
L: Let us reflect on the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling His unity and presence among us: “Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Silence)
All: Lord Jesus, deepen our Vincentian spirit of friendship during this meeting and make us responsive to the Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering, or the deprived so that we may bring them your love. Help us to be generous with our time, our possessions, and ourselves in this mission of charity. Perfect in us your love and teach us to share more fully in the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered for all.
L: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, All: Have mercy on us.
L: Immaculate Heart of Mary, All: Pray for us.
L: St. Vincent de Paul, All: Pray for us.
L: St. Louise de Marillac, All: Pray for us.
L: Blessed Frederic Ozanam, All: Pray for us.
L: Blessed Rosalie Rendu, All: Pray for us.
L: In the Name of the Father, etc.
All: Amen.
Closing Prayer for Society Meetings:
All: Father, grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist may realize the depth of our needs, respond more spontaneously to the suffering of others, and come to love You more deeply by service to our neighbor.
Grant us also the wisdom and strength to persevere when disappointed or distressed. May we never claim that the fruitfulness of our apostolate springs from ourselves alone. United in prayer and action, may we become a visible sign of Christ and may we give witness to His boundless love, which reaches out to all and draws them to love one another in Him.
We thank You, Lord, for the many blessings which we receive from those whom we visit. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs, and to share their burdens and joys as true friends in Christ.
L: That the Cause for the Canonization of Frederic Ozanam, who excelled in the virtue of Christian love, be advanced.
All: Lord, hear us.
L: That our departed friends and relatives, our Vincentian Brothers and Sisters, and those whom we have served, be welcomed into your Kingdom and joined in love.
All: Lord, hear us.
L: In the Name of the Father, etc.
All: Amen.
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