Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the fifth week of Easter, May 22, 2025

Delivered by Bella from the Parish of Kristus Raja in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 15: 7-21; Rs psalm 96: 1-2a.2b-3.10; John 15: 9-11.STAY ALWAYS IN MY LOVE Our meditation today is entitled: StayAlways in My Love. This is the sentence that comes from Jesus Himself when He presentsto us His real identity as the true vine. The purpose of staying with Him is tohave a life that can produce abundant fruits of joy, happiness and salvation. Perhaps it is not about motivation ofthe invitaton of Jesus and the promises he gives us. It is not a question ofwhether the invitation and assurance true or fake. It is irrelevant for exampleto question whether God will save us or not. It may not be the opportunity todecide not to fulfill the invitation, because we have been baptized and havepromised to follow Him for the rest of our lives. Instead of having many questions ordoubts, more precisely let be our duty to respond to His invitation and the promiseHe had laid on us with stedfastness of our faith that shows our acceptance. We showwillingness and interest to always being with our Lord. We long all the moreHis invitation when our way of life seems lost in the midst of the busy worldthat surrounds us. For those people who practice the true love of God, thisinvitation should be a very special bonus. For example, when a peaceful,harmonius and lovely family welcomes this invitation and the promise of truehappiness that is from the Lord, it certainly experiences the growth of truefaith in the Lord Jesus. On the other hand when a family or person who have notexperienced the true love that it should have, or perhaps they really have losthope for the absence of love at all, this invitation of Jesus must be a sign ofGod's initiative to bring them back to that love. They must not feel ashame, afraid or unworthybecause the One who invites and gives assurance is God himself. They must admitand believe that love is much stronger and it definitely overcomes shame, fear,unworthiness and lack of trust. The Love of the Lord can overcome prejudices,suspicions and discrimination based on the fact that each person or group isdifferent from one to another. On the basis of that love andespecially in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for example, the apostles heldthe council in Jerusalem to strengthen the vision and mission of the one Churchthat originates and aims at Jesus Christ alone. They discussed, debated anddisputed on the differences laid among them and Gentiles. In the name of love,they made a reflection under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then they came upto a decision that benefited the whole Church. The invitation of Jesus will continueto knock at our hearts: Stay in my love. We must not reject it! Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... Our good and loving God, may Your love guide our lives, and wehappily welcome the invitation of Jesus Your Son to always abide in His love.Amen. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit … In the nameof the Father ...