5th Week of Easter – Sunday C

Published on 17 May 2025 at 13:07

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our readings today invite us to reflect on our shared destiny in Christ. As we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we are reminded that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—bidding us to follow Him in love and fidelity, even amid challenges.

In the first reading, we hear about Paul and Barnabas returning to strengthen the disciples and appointing leaders in the early Christian communities. They faced hardships, yet they persevered in proclaiming the Gospel, trusting that God's grace would sustain them. Their journey was not easy, but their commitment to share the Good News, having been rooted in love for Christ and for the people, motivated them. We too need this kind of motivation. We can ask ourselves: what does my love for Christ and his people look like?

This reminds us that discipleship often involves sacrifice and perseverance. Following Jesus may lead us through trials and difficulties, but we are called to remain faithful, trusting that God is at work — opening doors of faith, bringing new life, and building His kingdom. Our faith journey may include hardships, but like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to persevere, knowing that our efforts contribute to God's ongoing work in the world.

The psalm for today emphasizes the gracious and merciful nature of God—slow to anger, rich in kindness, good to all, and compassionate. It calls us to praise and thank God for allowing us to be citizens of his eternal kingdom. Look at how much effort we have to make, and all the protocols we have to fulfill so as to be citizens of any country. Think of how hard it is sometimes to get a passport? Yet we covet such status and affiliations when all the while our greatest citizenship is in the kingdom of God.

The vision of a new heaven and a new earth offers us hope and assurance. God’s promise is that He will dwell with His people, wipe away every tear, and eliminate suffering and death. This is the fulfillment of Jesus’ words: “Behold, I make all things new.”

This hope sustains us amid our present struggles. It reminds us that our journey is toward a glorious destiny where love, justice, and peace reign supreme. Our faith points us forward, urging us to live with the confidence that God’s promise is certain, and that we are called to be part of this new creation.

Finally, Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is the hallmark of Christian discipleship. It is through our love that others will recognize us as Jesus’ followers. The greatest challenge to this love is when we are called to love a person even in their imperfection and sinfulness, yet recognizing these in ourselves makes it easier.
Loving as Jesus loved means forgiving, serving, sacrificing, and caring for others selflessly. It is not always easy, but it is essential. Our love becomes a testimony to the world that Christ is alive in us, that His love transforms us and flows through us to others.

As we reflect on these readings, let us remember that we are called to remain faithful through hardships, trusting in God's goodness and His promise of renewal. Our love must be rooted in the love Jesus showed us—sacrificial, unconditional, and divine.

Let us pray for the grace to love one another as Christ loves us, to persevere in faith amid challenges, and to be witnesses of hope and renewal in our world. May our lives reflect the joy of the resurrection and the promise of eternal life, where God will wipe away every tear and make all things new. Amen.


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