17 May 2020 Sixth Sunday of Easter
Let us Pray:
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Today’s readings remind us that the one true God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.
As Paul reflected with the Athenians as he visited their shrines and places of worship, that they had identified an unknown presence amongst their deities. That their own poets reflected concerning this unknown God “For we too are his offspring.”
Paul reflected that since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. That while God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
So, as we are His offspring then what should we fear? If we are subjected to suffering in our quest to share Jesus with the world we can be assured that our efforts do not go unnoticed. As John reminds us in his gospel Jesus assured the apostles, and assures us that we will not be alone in our faith. HIS gift of the Holy Spirit is with us today as Jesus promised and provided to the apostles in their time, and the Holy Spirit continues to fill us with strength, hope, peace and love today. So as we go through the current trials and tribulations our assurance of HIS presence gives us peace and comfort even in the most trying of times. As we support each other and reach out to those are still searching for hope let us not ever forget the passion that Jesus
exhibited to provide us the awareness of our kinship with HIM.
While we pray and share the assurances of our faith with each other don’t allow the hysteria and confusion the enemy uses draw us from our Father in heaven who has made our place with HIM clear.
My prayer for us this day is that together we support and share in the most precious of gifts given to us from love, so as to reflect the true commitment Jesus gave us. Love our God with all our heart, soul and strength and love our neighbors as God loves us.
May the blessing of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us with us this day and remain with us forever.
Amen