When Covid-19 hit and everything in life changed drastically, none of us could see any good that came out from it. In fact many wondered if it was God’s punishment on us all. But why and what is the lesson for us all? Had the Lord our God abandoned us? No more Church? No more sacraments?
Slowly but surely we began to see the Lord’s guiding hand in everything especially through our difficulties and in the gathering of His flock. Many who follow closely the instruction of wearing the mask as we continue to ride out the pandemic find they do not fall sick as often as they did in the past prior to wearing one. The air that we breath at home and outside is fresher even through the wearing of the mask. Through the Holy Spirit we were guided to find new ways to gather in His name. Zoom and many video conferencing apps enabled us to do so. His saving grace was at hand and many were touched and healed in His presence which transcends time and space! Coming together to pray and discern as One community we began to see new opportunities of reaching out to those in need and found new ways to evangelise so as to share the joy of the Gospel.
All this was possible and continues to be so because we choose to remain steadfast in His love. Our joy is complete in Him! Amen Alleluia
First reading
Acts 15:7-21 ·
I rule that we do not make things more difficult for the pagans who turn to God
After the discussion had gone on a long time, Peter stood up and addressed the apostles and the elders.
‘My brothers,’ he said ‘you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. It would only provoke God’s anger now, surely, if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support? Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.’
This silenced the entire assembly, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans.
When they had finished it was James who spoke. ‘My brothers,’ he said ‘listen to me. Simeon has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the pagans. This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the scriptures say:
After that I shall return
and rebuild the fallen House of David;
I shall rebuild it from its ruins
and restore it.
Then the rest of mankind,
all the pagans who are consecrated to my name,
will look for the Lord,
says the Lord who made this known so long ago.
‘I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath.’
Gospel
John 15:9-11
Remain in my love
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.’
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