Sunday, May 21, 2017

The Sunday Word

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There' still time to study the Scriptures for the Sixth Sunday after Easter. It is in this preparation that we will be better prepared to hear, understand, receive, and be nourished by the Lord's Word today.

The first text from the Acts of the Apostles continues to relate stories of the Easter proclamation. This week Philip. Peter and John make their way to Samaria and those present are filled with great Easter joy. Through their witness and their words many are cured and baptized. Peter and John laid hands on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then Peter weighs in with his first letter. He seems to lend some weight to explaining the Easter hope with gentleness and reverence. At times our work will meet with hostility and difficulty. But doing good with suffering is what Christ endured and he was brought to life in the Spirit.

And finally, Jesus does not mince words in today's Gospel reading when he says, “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”