First Reading: Acts 14:21-27
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Ico'nium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed. Then they passed through Pisid'ia, and came to Pamphyl'ia. nd when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attali'a; and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grac of God for the work which they had fulfilled. And when they arrived, they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Psalm: Psalm 145:8-13
Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Gospel: John 13:31-33, 34-35
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Reflection
by Benj Santiago
Moses, in the Old Testament got the Ten Commandments encrypted in stone tablets by God that he was not even able to see. In the New Testament, it was Jesus speaking directly to His disciples about a New Commandment of Love. And not only did He give His disciples a command, He has shown by His examples how each one must love one another. In this Sunday’s gospel scene, Jesus had already done the lowliest of the job of a servant by washing their feet. Jesus by this time, had already shown them that He has gone through the sacrifice of dying in the cross for the sins of men, and He already told them to be of service to many like a faithful shepherd to his flock. I liken this scene in the gospel to a “habilin” (a last will) to His disciples before He returns to heaven. Jesus is commissioning His disciples to continue His ministry on earth by loving one another as we are loved unconditionally by Him, our Lord Jesus, our God. Thus, Jesus said “I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)
It is all about Love. Love will restore us to the new heaven: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'Look, here God lives among human beings. He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone.” (Revelations 21: 1, 3-4)
Love is so exciting and a wonderful feeling. But it is not too easy to do all the time even to the person I dearly love. Envy, distrust, and other deceptions by the Evil One sometimes win over my decision to love. I keep falling out and in of love. A continuous struggle which I believe is true for most of us. But I am so driven and I am praying even harder that I would be able to follow the new commandment of love for I am looking forward to the reward of being part of the “new earth without a sea”. Wow, we can traverse the world on foot! We can reach out to so many people and places. A new earth where God lives with humans. A new earth where there will be no more death, no more sadness or pain, no more tears.” A new earth filled with love. It is really all about LOVE. And all I have to do is LOVE. LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You, we adore You, we glorify You! You are so loving, You don’t give up on us. We continuously fall into sin of envy and hatred yet You continually give us hope of eternal life with You! We pray You grant us a new heart filled with Your love that we may be able to love one another and follow the new commandment that Your dearly beloved Son has given us! We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother, AMEN!
Reflection
by Benj Santiago
Moses, in the Old Testament got the Ten Commandments encrypted in stone tablets by God that he was not even able to see. In the New Testament, it was Jesus speaking directly to His disciples about a New Commandment of Love. And not only did He give His disciples a command, He has shown by His examples how each one must love one another. In this Sunday’s gospel scene, Jesus had already done the lowliest of the job of a servant by washing their feet. Jesus by this time, had already shown them that He has gone through the sacrifice of dying in the cross for the sins of men, and He already told them to be of service to many like a faithful shepherd to his flock. I liken this scene in the gospel to a “habilin” (a last will) to His disciples before He returns to heaven. Jesus is commissioning His disciples to continue His ministry on earth by loving one another as we are loved unconditionally by Him, our Lord Jesus, our God. Thus, Jesus said “I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.” (John 13:34-35)
It is all about Love. Love will restore us to the new heaven: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'Look, here God lives among human beings. He will make his home among them; they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone.” (Revelations 21: 1, 3-4)
Love is so exciting and a wonderful feeling. But it is not too easy to do all the time even to the person I dearly love. Envy, distrust, and other deceptions by the Evil One sometimes win over my decision to love. I keep falling out and in of love. A continuous struggle which I believe is true for most of us. But I am so driven and I am praying even harder that I would be able to follow the new commandment of love for I am looking forward to the reward of being part of the “new earth without a sea”. Wow, we can traverse the world on foot! We can reach out to so many people and places. A new earth where God lives with humans. A new earth where there will be no more death, no more sadness or pain, no more tears.” A new earth filled with love. It is really all about LOVE. And all I have to do is LOVE. LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You, we adore You, we glorify You! You are so loving, You don’t give up on us. We continuously fall into sin of envy and hatred yet You continually give us hope of eternal life with You! We pray You grant us a new heart filled with Your love that we may be able to love one another and follow the new commandment that Your dearly beloved Son has given us! We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother, AMEN!
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