Book Reviews and More: Fifth Sunday of Easter Sunday 2018

Sunday, 29 April 2018

Fifth Sunday of Easter Sunday 2018

Fifth Sunday of Easter Sunday 2018

Well it has been another long week. As I read the readings over, I realized how much I need these readings, and how much I look forward to the sermon on them.

First Reading Acts 9:26-31
Responsorial Psalm 22: 25-27, 29-31 Response 25a
Second Reading 1 John 3:18-24
Gospel John 15:1-8

After Saul's conversion he eventually returns to Jerusalem. At first the apostles were afraid of him. But that is not the end of the story. Barnabas took him, vouched for him. There have been many times in my life I have needed a Barnabas. I have made a lot of mistakes. And often not lived up to my beliefs. In those time God sent a Barnabas to come along side, help me get back on track and restore me to fellowship. From the second reading we are commanded:

"Little children, let us love,
not in word or speech, but in truth and action."

And later:

"And this is his commandment,
that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christie Digital Systems and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
Whoever obeys his commandments abides in him,
And he abides in them.
and by this we know that he abides in us,
by the Spirit that he has given us."

That is a lot to live up to. And in and of ourselves we cannot. It is only the God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can even begin to strive to live these words. But that is what we are called to do.

For many years I have prayed that my actions would live up to my theology. Today that is my prayer again, and it is my prayer for you as well. I pray for blessings on you during this fifth week of Easter, or when you stumble across this post.