Something New in my Life

Something New in my Life

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Acts 14:21-27, Rev. 21:1-5, Jn 13:31-35. On this Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C, the Church invites us to newness of life in our faith and in love for others. Today's second reading and the Gospel, took up this theme of "Newness" in some interesting ways. Though, the first reading did not make it explicit, it anticipated a new community of Christians in Antioch borne out of tribulations and built on faith. Paul encourages us to remain faithful in our missions as disciples of Jesus Christ. He reminds us that: “We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God.” In other words, our suffering as Christians is the stepping stone to our victory. The second reading mentioned that in the vision of the new Heaven and a new earth, the first of these passed away. If God is bringing something new and productive, it means that there is something old and useless that need to be replaced in our lives.

We may be facing contending financial, family and relationship, job and career issues and so many others. All of these may have also rendered us helpless, hopeless, broken and dissipated. It is at this point that God is bringing something new for us. Today's Gospel tells us about something new given to us by God which is at the same time a commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another...” A commandment has a binding force behind it. We allow the "New Commandment" to define our life when we forgive those who have wronged us most passionately as our Lord did on the cross (Lk 23:34). We allow the "New Commandment" to define our life when we return good for evil (Mt. 5:38-42). We allow the "New Commandment" to define our life when we are able to let go and let God.

May the Lord enlighten us with His gift of love and bring us closer in heart and mind! Amen!! Good morning and have a blissful Sunday!!!

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