Surrexit Christus Alleluia!
 

Sixth Sunday of Easter : Reading cycle Year B
† 28th May 2000
Cycle of Prayer: New members of the Church

First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10 : 25 - 26, 34 - 35, 44 - 48
Some fundamental messages here, that the Good News, the euangelion - is for all people, of whatever nationality, that despite the fact that the apostle Peter’s reputation proceeds him, he is but a man like everyone else, and declares this openly to Cornelius and the household. Finally, anyone who “fears God, and does what is acceptable” may be baptised and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in abundance.

Second Reading from First Letter of John 4 : 7 - 10
God’s love is shown to the world through Jesus Christ, and as the Christian community is the living temple of the Holy Spirit, then the Christian disciple also is to show God’s love to the world and its people today. If we recall the apostle John’s earlier words from this same letter read only last week, “Our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active,” then we can focus on the practical ways in which, each of us can show God’s love to the world.

Gospel according to John 15 : 9 - 17
For most people today, slavery is not something they can easily identify with. Have we any idea of what it is to chained, whipped, to belong totally to an unjust owner, not to be able to come and go as we please? The contrast here in this gospel passage is between being treated like a slave, or being treated as a friend. Jesus treats his disciples as trusted and honoured friends. As the chosen friends, we know our Master’s business, we remain in his company, and are commissioned to go out and bear fruit in the Lord’s service.