A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, May 9th

Br. Edward Havlovic, SDS, who lived in the Salvatorian community here at St. Pius X for many years, died peacefully on May 2nd at the age of 90.  Please remember Br. Edward in your prayers.

The theme of our readings today is that WE ARE CHOSEN by God, then sent to show love, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS!  Peter says it well in the first reading from Acts of the Apostles when he says, In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.  The Jews believed they were the only chosen ones; Peter is telling them that God loves all people equally.

The first letter of John reinforces that God loves all people, using the word agape to describe God’s love.  Agape is not an emotional or physical love (eros from which we get our word erotic), but rather a selfless concern for the good of the other person.  It is how God loves us and continues to love us, no matter what we do.  Our Gospel then gives us Jesus’ ultimate commandment: love one another, as I have loved you, that is, with agape.

These three readings fit together so well in reminding us of the special love that God has for us and our responsibility to bring that love to others.  It is not because others deserve the love or have earned our love; it is because we are sharing the love which God has shown to us, a love that we didn’t earn.

These are perfect readings to have fallen on Mother’s Day.  A truly good mother has a special kind of love for her children, a love that the children did not have to earn, a love that is freely given and remains, despite what the children may do.  

My friends, this is what we need to do to live the Gospel, to bring about the Kingdom.  It is that simple and that hard.  All our actions need to be judged against this command: love one another, as I have loved you.

I invite us to reflect on God’s love for us and how well we are doing at bringing that love to others.  As we move through life, may we grow in our ability to do so! We remember our mothers in prayer in a special way today.  May God bless them always.

Church sign of the week: How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies thought the world needed one of you, too!  (Thanks Mom: happy Mother’s Day)