RENUNGAN – 5th SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C
Reflection for 5th Sunday of Easter Year C (17th and 18th May 2025)
First reading: Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27
Second reading: Apocalypse 21:1-5
Gospel: John 13:31-35
This weekend missal reading theme is ‘The New Creation’
In the 1st reading, Paul and Barnabas guided by the Holy Spirit continued their work of bringing the Good News to the cities and towns outside of Jerusalem, where they established Christian communities wherever they found a welcome. They brought fresh heart and encouragement for these disciples and appointed elders and regularly as much as they can, to revisit these cities and towns where they provide teaching, guidance and let the community of Christians grow while maintaining perseverance in their prayer lives and commitment to serve God through their mission of evangelization even though they were experienced rejections, persecution and hardships. Paul and Barnabas persisted in their mission because of their love for these communities of Christians, for they believe all is done for the sake of the Kingdom of God and His glory. We too can be filled if we pray to the Lord for a fresh heart in Christ to enable us carry out His work to bring the Good News to others wherever we are at work, home or recreation, while perseverance in the face of challenges in living our faith.
In the 2nd reading, John envisioned a new heaven and a new Jerusalem which resounds a fresh heart and a representation of God’s people who are united with Jesus in heaven. In this scene there will be no more tears, no more death nor sadness. The Lord will make His home among them. The reading reveals that if we as Christians can have love for one another in the form of unconditional love or ‘Agape’, teaching and encourage others to be faithful to the Lords’ commandments and the social teachings of the church i.e. putting God as our priority, care for one another by loving our neighbours, then we too can be united and the Lord will make His home among us. For God’s kingdom is also established on earth as it is in heaven.
The Gospel reading of John signifies the importance of Christ obedience to the will of the Father had led to His glorification. We too as Christians Catholic are to remain true to our calling, would glorify God, for Jesus Himself had offered sacrifice in order that we be reconciled with God the Father, in order that we can attain eternal life through salvation in Christ. To belong to Christ is to follow His teaching and Jesus taught us a new commandment that we love one another just as He has loved us, so must we love one another, then only can we call ourselves a disciple of Christ. For Jesus love is Agape or unconditional. For St Paul in his epistles in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 described love as patient, kind, not envy, not dishonour, not self-seeking, not easily angered, it keeps no wrong, doesn’t delight in evil but rejoice in truth. This love also protects, trusts, hopes, persevere and never fails.
The Lord reminds us today not to forget to carry out our calling to bring the Good News, the message of Easter to others, that through our Christian identity, to be willing to persevere in hardships and difficulty for the sake of the Kingdom of God, and to live up to Jesus commandment to love one another just as Christ has loved us. We pray that Christ will give us a fresh heart, filled with the Holy Spirit, so that we may not be discouraged in facing our daily challenges but persevere in our efforts to love one another while at the same time remain faithful to God, for the Lord makes His home among those who are close to Christ.
Amen.
Prepared by Cat. Fredie
