Open with a prayer: Jesus, during this Easter season we celebrate the new life you gained from your death and resurrection. Help us to open our hearts more and more to your gift of new life. Bless our sharing of your Holy Word. Amen
Sharing of life: Share a 'moment of grace' you experienced since you last met.
Facilitator reads focus statement: All three readings speak about "newness". The first reading speaks of new converts. The second reading speaks about a new heaven and a new earth and the Gospel speaks of a new commandment of love.
Consider reading the commentary after you read each reading if you have not done so prior to your meeting.
FIRST READING: Acts 14:21-27
Paul and Barnabas have just concluded their first missionary journey. They are now retracing their steps back home. Along the way, they pay a pastoral visit to churches that they had founded and formed. They encourage the newly-formed communities to persevere - even if suffering comes their way, as it most surely will. After all, Christ suffered. Hence, his followers cannot expect to escape the cross. Finally, Paul shares with the communities their evangelization successes stressing that God was the reason for the success.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 145
This is a psalm of thanksgiving to God for his goodness and salvation.
SECOND READING: Revelation 21:1-5
John presents us with this final vision - of a new heaven and a new earth when all the enemies of God will be destroyed. The old order will pass away and the sea (the place of chaos and evil) will be no more. The New Jerusalem is imaged as God's Bride. God is imaged as one living in the midst of his people - loving them and they loving him. When God brings about a new Heaven and a New Earth, his people will no longer experience trials, times of testing and purification. Instead, they will only experience glory, happiness and peace.
GOSPEL: John 13:31-35
Judas' departure sets the scene for Jesus' last Discourse and glorification. The die is cast; there is no going back now. Jesus' "hour" has come. The events of salvation are about to begin. Jesus begins by speaking about his "glorification," i.e., his passion, death and resurrection. Jesus says, "the Son of man is glorified and God is glorified in him." The Son of Man is glorified both in his willingness to obey God even unto death and in the fact that God will glorify him by making his sacrifice effective for the salvation of all. By pouring out his life for us, Jesus not only saves us, but also gives us a perfect example of what love is.
Then Jesus speaks to his disciples about a new commandment - to love one another. What is new about Jesus' commandment is that it calls his followers to show the same self-sacrificing love that he has shown them. The mark of a true disciple is his willingness to lay down his life for the Gospel. This new commandment of love was at work in the heart of Paul and Barnabas when they were willing to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel. It was at work in the heart of the beloved disciple, John, and the community he was writing to in the Book of Revelation. It was at work in the hearts of people down through the ages when they laid down their lives to preach the Gospel and serve the poor.
FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS
1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you in the readings? Why?
2. If you are a convert to Catholicism, what motivated you to convert? If you are a "cradle Catholic", what motivates you to remain a Catholic? Have you ever been tempted to leave Catholicism?
3. How has belonging to a faith community enriched your faith life?
4. Name some ways that you live the command to love? What might be an example of sacrificial love in your life?
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
What is one way you can act on the readings? Suggestions: Greet a homeless person, and pray for homeless people. Make a special effort to reach out to someone you prefer to ignore.
CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION
Include individuals and organizations that work to help the poor. Pray for the grace to love people you prefer to avoid. ©