May 18, 2025
John 13: 31-33a, 34,35
In our Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Easter, we return to the Last Discourse of Jesus.
Perhaps, you like so many, waited to hear what were the final words of our dear Pope Francis. Certainly, we have his powerful Easter homily. However, were there any other last words he spoke before his death?? Do you remember what they were? We are told that he simply said “THANK YOU”. Pope Francis was thanking his longtime friend and nurse who had told him it was OK to ride around Vatican square to greet his beloved flock one more time, which would be his last.
Jesus, too, had his last words which are called his LAST DISCOURSE.
In our Gospel for today, we hear again a part of that section of John’a Gospel. What did Jesus tell us? What were some of his last words?? We hear Jesus say to his disciples and to us. “As I have loved you, so also should you love one another!” Wow! As Jesus has loved us!
Just over a short month ago, we celebrated Holy Week. We remembered Jesus last deeds-how He showed his love! We remember how he washed his disciples’ feet and then, gave us His own Body and Blood to be our food and drink! All of this culminating in his Passion, Death and Resurrection when Jesus gave us his very own life.
Through our Baptism, we became Jesus’ disciples. We will truly be his disciples only if we love as Jesus loved. That means that we serve our brothers and sisters by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger… We are called as Jesus disciples to give our very lives in love for our sisters and brothers. In this year we, Sisters of Notre de Namur, remember our own Sister Dorothy Stang. She is surely an example of the love Jesus showed, not only by her death but for all she did for her sisters and brothers in Brazil. May she intercede for us now!
This Gospel for today, then is a call, a challenge to be a true disciple.
Just a few days ago, we heard the famous words “HABEMUS PAPA. Recently was the installation Mass for Pope Leo XIV! May we grow as we are called by Jesus in His Last Discourse as well as our new Holy Father to have missionary hearts-hearts as wide as the world-to love as Jesus loved.
As one writer in commenting on this Gospel said, “the challenge is to stay in the present and meet others where they are. How can I truly listen to another? How can I truly help someone feel the ever present love of God.”
In a few weeks, we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. May the Spirit come again and again into our hearts and inflame them with that love with which Jesus loves us!!
John 13: 31-33a, 34,35
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Meet Sister Anne Flanagan, SNDdeN
