“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
20th May 2021
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THURSDAY, SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER
Reading 1: Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 In Jerusalem the Sanhedrin puts Paul on trial, but he professes his belief in the resurrection of the dead and creates a conflict between the Pharisees (who believe) and the Sadducees (who do not).
Gospel: Jn 17: 20-26 We have the conclusion of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper: “I pray that they may be [one].”
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LEARN TO LOVE
In the Gospel passage today, we are in the final part of Jesus’ prayer, where he prays for all those who through the influence of disciples before us came to believe in Christ as Lord. Each one of us is among those Jesus is praying for here. Jesus prays above all for unity among his disciples, “By this will all know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.” Jesus prays that we may display the same unity among ourselves and with Jesus as that which binds Jesus and the Father. It is through the love that Christians, coming as they do from so many ethnic groups, cultures and all classes of people, show for each other that they give the most effective witness to the message of Christ. “May they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me.”
In a world divided along so many lines, Christian unity would lead people to see the love and unity in Christian communities. For this, we need to learn about Love. In the prayer, Jesus first shows us that the source of love is God. And this love of God is revealed in Jesus Christ. We come to know this love as we come to know God. Jesus also shows us where we can find love and where we can demonstrate love, as he goes on with prayer.
First, we need to love one another by listening to one another. We live in an age in which people do not listen to each other. We talk to one another, and others are constantly talking to us. But no one really listens. So one of the things we need to do, if we are truly characterized by the love of God, is to listen. God listens to us. Second, we must learn to share, ourselves and all we have. We are obsessed by the new, and desire what our neighbour has, rather than share what we have. We don’t share about ourselves, for we are ashamed of ourselves and afraid to lose our relationship with them. But know that God knows who we are. He knows us and yet loves us, and makes us realise our true self and helps us to love others
Res. Psalm: Ps 16: 1-2, 5-11 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
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