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29-Apr-2007
Dear Friend,
Unless we love something or someone nothing makes sense in life. The truth of
this statement cannot be explained, it has to be experienced. God is love. He
cannot be explained, He has to be experienced. If we are not witnessing to His
love, our faith and life is empty. Have a blessed weekend enjoying His love.
Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Easter Love is the sign
7-May-07
Readings: Acts 14: 21-27; Apocalypse 21: 1-5; John
13:31-35;
In today's first reading from the Acts we have a description of the early
missionary journey of Paul building the Church of God. Paul had undertaken this
missionary journey in response to the call of God and at the end of their
missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas encourage the community to be faithful to
their calling in spite of the persecutions they undergo. In order to keep up
their faith they appoint elders to be the leaders in the faith. Their role is
to provide servant leadership to the community, taking care of the people and
leading them by their example and letting their love be the guiding force in
building the community.
The Two Pilgrims
Tolstoy's story of The Two Pilgrims tells of two Russians who set out on
pilgrimage to Jerusalem intent on being present at the solemn Easter
festivities. One had his mind so set on the journey's end and object, that he
would stop for nothing and take thought for nothing but the journey. The other,
passing through, found people to be helped at every turn and actually spent so
much time and money along the way that he never reached the Holy City. But
something came to him from God, which the other missed; and something came
through him from God into the lives of men, which the other failed to find in
the great Easter celebration.
William P. Merrill
In the second reading from the apocalypse, we are given a description of the
Christian community as the new Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth. This
new community is constantly renewing itself and is renewed in Christ because it
is centred on Christ. The Christian community is the dwelling place of God, for
he has made his home in their midst and the love that they have for one another
is a result of the dwelling of God in their midst. He is a God of compassion
and care who wipes away every tear. He is the author of change and hope.
Quest for Fire
In the early 1980s, an unusual film was playing in movie theatres across the
nation. It was called Quest of Fire. Its French producer said it fulfilled a
lifelong dream. He'd always dream of celebrating, in film, the discovery of
fire. For it was the discovery of fire 80,000 years ago that saved the people
on planet Earth from total extinction. It was the discovery of fire that made
it possible for them to make tools for survival and to protect themselves
against the cold. Today, people on earth are beginning to worry again that we
are headed for total extinction. Today, people on earth are beginning to worry
again that we are teetering on the brink of global disaster. This time the
danger comes not from something basic like fire but from something even more
basic the lack of human love, the kind of love Jesus talked about in the
gospel. Will the fire of love die out on earth? Or will we help to rekindle the
fire? Perhaps we are aware of it more by its absence than its
presence.
Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies'
In today' gospel Jesus gives his farewell address to his disciples, he calls
them 'little children' a term of endearment, his disciples are his specially
loved ones. Telling them he is leaving a new commandment, he speaks of love.
But what is new about that? Two big things. For one, Jesus does not equate love
of neighbour with love of one's fellow Israelites, as the First Testament code
had done; he extends love to all people without distinction, as he had shown in
the parable of the Good Samaritan. Secondly, Jesus' commandment is new in the
ideal it strives to emulate our love should be as Jesus loved us. In
practical terms, one who loves as Jesus loves does act in Jesus' way
universally, including all enemies; self-sacrificingly, without limit;
understandingly, like people who continue to love those whom they live with and
whom they know intimately, warts and all; and forgivingly, as Jesus loved his
disciples, all of whom never really fully understood him when they
were together, and in the end left him in his need.
"I've read a great deal over the years about the unhappy Franz Kafka but have
never read anything by him. His story and his stories seem to be surrounded and
impregnated by so much gloom that I had no desire to be sucked in. Nevertheless
there must have been something special about a man who could do what he did in
the final months of his life when he was dying of tuberculosis. Kafka met a
child in the street, crying because she lost her doll. He explained that while
her doll had indeed gone away, he by a happy coincidence had just met it and
the doll had promised to write. In the weeks that followed, Kafka did indeed
write letters to the little girl in which the doll told of her travels and
presumably brought sweet magic into that child's life. I'd like to be able to
think something like that." A.M.
"Soon, after a little while, Jesus will no longer be with his disciples. Not
that he wants to abandon them or leave them to themselves. It is because they
will have to change from being accustomed to his physical presence to faith in
his unseen presence, in the very experience of his absence. However, it is also
to bring to life that presence of the Son of man through the practice of the
new commandment of loving one another as he loved us. The love of the disciples
for one another is the guarantee and the manifestation of the permanent
presence of the risen One among his own. So it is that the mutual love of
Christians is what characterizes them during the time between Christ's leaving
us and his definitive return. Charity, as the fruit of love of the master for
his own, makes Christians his perfect followers and reveals the invisible
presence of the Church' Lord. "See how they love one another"; along with the
Eucharist, is the only sign which allows them to be
identified, because it is the only true and concrete way of actually living
out their Easter faith. " Glenstal Bible Missal
The Angel of Kindness
It was only a hug, a seemingly insignificant hug, and yet its gentle power
helped to make a miracle happen. She was new to our church. All I did was
counsel her for a few brief moments after an altar call. She had been living in
Canada for three years now, having escaped an abusive relationship in South
Africa. She told me of her escape from her homeland. At the airport, friends
and neighbours had rallied around her, shielding her and her children from her
outraged husband and the local police as they tried to stop her from boarding
the plane to freedom. I gave her my bible and phone number and told her if she
ever needed to talk to give me a call. That was when I hugged her and then we
parted company. Three weeks later the call came. She said she was beside
herself with worry and grief. Her son could not handle the cultural differences
of his adopted country, or the taunts and ridicule of his classmates. Her own
life since coming to Canada was equally challenging.
Thoughts of suicide began to occupy her mind daily and she was frightened of
what she might do if she gave up. Then she remembered our encounter and the hug
and called. She told me how much that hug meant to her. She talked for a long
time and it was the beginning of a lovely friendship. One day she phoned to say
she had a gift for me. She said there was a catch in the gift. I had to promise
to give it away! The gift was a beautiful china angel. Its arms were
outstretched, and it held a tiny dove in its right hand. It was, she told me,
The Angel of kindness, given in appreciation of random acts of kindness. It
had been given to her some time ago by a person she once had helped. She said
my hug and telephone number had quite literally saved her life. The Angel of
kindness was mine for the moment but would take flight again. Simple acts of
love hold life together, that act could sometimes be as simple as a hug.
Allison Gappa Bottke in 'God allows U-Turns'
Love isn't love till we give it away!!
Fr. Jude Botelho
www.netforlife.net
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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