In Acts chapter 10, Peter tells Cornelius, who had fallen at his feet, “Get up. I myself am a human being.” Though Peter was “The Rock” and our first Pope, he didn’t feel worthy enough to have someone bow to him. He failed just as we do. Like Peter, we are not any more worthy than anyone else. We should ask God for forgiveness when we fail and strength to do better in the future.
We also should be welcoming of others. Later in the chapter it says “The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word.” The Jews were surprised that the Gentiles were included as well, but Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” We are called to evangelize out into the world, spreading the Word of God to everyone. Through our actions and sharing of our Faith, we can welcome others into the Church.
Second Reading First Letter of John Chapter 4
“Love one another because love is of God.” The word love, or form of the word, is mentioned nine times in just three verses of this reading. This is a powerful message. God loves us so much that he “sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.” We should love others as Jesus loves us. We should care for each other as Jesus cares for us…bear each other’s burdens...and now I have the song “Love One Another” running through my head!
Gospel John Chapter 15
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you, Remain in my love If you keep my commandments” We should love God with our whole heart, soul, strength and mind. As long as we do that, we will be following his Commandments. If our actions or words do not help us to love God, then we shouldn’t do or say them.
Jesus also says “Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is where we should love our neighbor (or friend) as we love ourselves. Jesus didn’t call the disciples slaves, they were his friends. A slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. Jesus told the disciples what God told him. Jesus chose his disciples and he calls us to follow Him today. He commands us to “love one another” and we should pray to find ways to follow that commandment every day.