20 May
Sun 		6th Sunday of Easter (C)
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Ps. 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Rev. 21:10-14, 22-23
Jn. 14:23-29
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Jesus gave us a new commandment: we should love each other as He loved us. When we experience how deeply Jesus loves us, His love for us becomes the strength enabling us to keep His new commandment and love others. The opening words of today's Gospel passage hint at the same thought: we must love in order to be able to keep Jesus' words, His commandments. If we do truly personally experience Jesus' love for us, we will love Him in return. This mutual love will ensure that we do not belong to the world. The world does not and cannot accept or keep Jesus' word.

To those who desired to kill Him Jesus said, "My word finds no place in you" (Jn. 8:37). People who reject Jesus like this "cannot bear to listen to my words" (Jn. 8:43). Listening to the words of God is a guarantee that we come from God, that we belong to God, for those who do not listen are not from God (Jn. 8:47). As Jesus approached His death, He alerted us to the powers of darkness abroad in the world, encouraging us to refuse to belong to this world of darkness.


Jesus, let me experience Your love for me. Enable me to keep Your word in the midst of whatever darkness comes along.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to

The responsibility for many political decisions leading to war rests predominantly with men. Consequently, while men get wounded or die, women and children become refugees exposed to assault, rape or loss of children. The ones who suffer most in these conflicts are the weakest who get uprooted and are forced to flee. This is not the way humanity is supposed to live.

Like all refugees women and girls face problems of various kinds and need the following: protection against forced return to their countries of origin; security against armed attacks and other forms of violence; protection from unjustified and unduly prolonged detention; a legal status that accords them adequate social, economic and legal rights; and access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. They also need protection against human rights abuses and the myriad problems they have to encounter to safeguard their dignity and personhood.

We are asked to be in solidarity with them and pray that refugee women may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to.



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