Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the fifth Sunday of Easter, May 18, 2025

Delivered by Stella Wijaya, Chendani Budhi, Prishella Tjiuranda, and Maria Delie from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 14: 21b-27; Rs psalm 145: 8-9.10-11.12-13ab; Revelation 21: 1-5a; John 13: 31-33a.34-35.THE CARD OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS The title for our meditation on this 5thSunday of Easter is: The Card of the Disciples of Jesus. Our current world of political,economical and social activities is facilitated with the use of cards. We usecards to help us in our relationship with others, to engage in works with otherpeople, and to do transactions of goods or services. Someone who uses a cardsignifies his or her identity is being represented by that card that revealsinformation or data about him or her.  Our identity cards serve to facilitateus in all legal processes of our engagement and works. With the student cards, informationabout the situation of students and their academic and non academic developmentcan be accessed. And there are still many other cards that we normally use asthe instruments of the state government to do reach-out programs to people. Privateinstitutions also do same to their members and clients. The card becomes anofficial ticket for anybody to enter and exit according to the rules that bind. To become disciples of Jesus Christ,the holy Church facilitates the validity of membership of all followers ofChrist with the card in accordance with the standards made by the Churchauthority. This aims to make sure that all affairs related to both spiritualand physical services by the Church to every member can follow what the rulesrequire. We call that card as the baptismal card or certificate. Many othertypes of certificates in the Catholic Church should always refer to thebaptismal card. Actually, there is meaning behind thecard of every member of the Church and all related certificates that signifythe spiritual element of the card. What lies behind the card or certificate isthe spirit that makes it so important and fundamental to every follower ofChrist. Jesus himself says about this in our Gospel reading today, namely thelove that He has taught us and He himself is the perfect model for us to follow.If every disciple of Jesus has this love, the Church as the community of thePeople of God can experience that same love that works and affects therelationship among members of the Church. So, Jesus really says the followingstatement: "People will know that you are My disciples, if you have lovefor one to another." The card of the disciples of Christ isthe powerful message to reach all people in the world. This had happenedthrough the work of Saints Paul and Barnabas during the time of the EarlyChurch in its initial development. They reached many areas and places, andtheir inhabitants professed the Christian faith to become the new members ofthe Church. This same works still exist in the Church of today. Every one whoalready has a disciple card, and those who will become new disciples, must keepthe spirit of love and eager to love one another. If we live in the spirit oflove, something new always happens. God is dwelling in our midst, in the centerof our lives.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... God almighty, may the spirit of love remain in our day to dayrelationship and transform our lives towards perfection. Hail Mary full ofgrace ... In the name of the Father ...