The first reading teaches us that to enter the kingdom of God we must pass through various trials. Throughout the book of the Acts of the Apostles, which we have before us during this Easter season, we can see the confidence the apostles had in proclaiming and spreading the faith in Jesus Christ, despite the many trials they faced. Facing trials in faith and hope guarantees us a place of choice with God. They endeavoured to remain in contact with those who had converted to Christ. Thanks to their witness, the good news of the gospel is spreading more and more.
The second reading presents us with Saint John’s vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, where God’s love for his people blossoms into an intimate and unending presence. This love is offered to all; it excludes no one. God wants to make his home among us. Like him, we are invited to love our brothers and sisters in humanity. The Apostles experienced an hour of exceptional intimacy with the Lord on the evening of Holy Thursday, when he gave them the new commandment of brotherly love: My little children, I am still with you, but for a short time. I give you a new commandment: to love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. That is the good news we hear this Sunday. To love is to extend God, to live in his own way without excluding anyone. Indeed, what makes a life worth living is a love that is increasingly similar to that of Jesus for us. May the Lord give us the strength and courage to love as he did and with him.
Happy Sunday to one and all!
Sr Elisabeth N’GUETTIA
Community of Nylon – Cameroon
Vicariate of Saint François Coll
