Thursday, May 23, 2019

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Readings for Today

All Saints for Today

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.” John 15:9

There are three beautiful insights we should take from this passage.

First, the love of the Father for the Son is perfect in every way. It is unconditional and all-consuming. It’s total and selfless. In receiving the Father’s love, Jesus receives all He needs.

Second, the love Jesus receives from the Father cannot be contained. It cannot be kept to Himself. The love of the Father is such that it overflows from Jesus’ heart. It is this overflowing love that pours forth from Jesus to us.

Third, a key thing to ponder in this is that this overflowing love, now given to us, cannot be contained within us either. It must overflow from our hearts to others. Therefore, if we are to be true recipients of the love of the Father and the Son, we must in turn let that love pour forth onto others in an “unlimited” and “unconditional” way.

Think about it. “Unlimited.” “Unconditional.” Is this truly possible? Is it possible to be so radical and total in our love of others? Yes, it’s possible only if the love we speak of originates in the heart of the Father, given to the Son, and then poured out upon us to distribute freely.

Reflect, today, upon the fact that the love you are called to share with others originates in the Heart of the Father in Heaven. The first and most important step in learning to love with the Father’s Heart is to let God love you. This can be very hard to do. It can be hard to let God love you, to receive that love, and to let it affect you deeply. But if you can continually let God love you with His perfect love, you will start to see that this love automatically flows forth from you as if it were an overflowing river of grace and mercy.

Lord, I do love You and know that I am loved by You. Help me to be open to Your love. Help me to let that love sink in so that it may also overflow from my heart to others. Jesus, I trust in You.

More Gospel Reflections

Divine Mercy Reflections