Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • May 4, 2018 5 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com Prices starting at $2,499 ~ with airfare included in this price from anywhere in the USA Many trip destinations: the Holy Land; Italy; France; Portugal; Spain; Poland; Medjugor- je; Lourdes; Fatima; Ireland; Scotland; Eng- land; Austria; Germany; Switzerland; Turkey; Greece; Budapest; Prague; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Colombia; Brazil; Argentina; Domestic Destinations; etc… We also specialize in custom trips for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons (Hablamos Español) 855-842-8001 508-340-9370 www.proximotravel.com anthony@proximotravel.com call us 24/7 Thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Jude, for prayers answered. LD Thank you, Jesus and Mary, for prayers answered. CS Thank you, St. Jude and St. Anthony for prayers answered. CS “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -- George Bernard Shaw Some years ago, Cardinal Timothy Dolan was named in Time magazines’ top 100 issue of people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us, and change our world. Time described Cardinal Dolan as a warm prelate who leads his flock more by charm than by fiat, offering a nuanced Christian witness, reaching out to Jews and Muslims and urging his own faith to re-evangelize itself before assuming that the rest of the world will open its head and heart to the Catholic message.” Today’s readings are about changing minds, hearts and actions. In our first reading Peter had a major change of heart that affected the future direction of the Church. Although he might have been content to have a certain percentage of Jews embrace Jesus as Lord and Messiah, God had a different plan. The creator of the universe wanted everyone to embrace his only begotten Son (John 3:16). On his own, Peter would have never entered the house of a Gentile but by God’s command and leading of the Holy Spirit (read Acts Chapters 10 and 11) he gave in. Food, in Peter’s vision, is used metaphorically to reveal his attitude of judging people as “clean” or “unclean.” Never say “never” if you desire God’s will over your own. Peter’s early resistance to God’s call and later shift from a defiant to a teachable spirit offers opportunity for personal reflection. In what ways and to whom do we have a prejudiced attitude? Are not all God’s creatures deserving of love and inclusion into the body of Christ? When it comes to knowing God’s will is your spirit teachable or resistant? When reading Scripture or Church teachings do you apply razor blade discernment -- cutting out those sections that may challenge deeply held practices and opinions? Peter’s love for Jesus was strong enough to shift him from resistance to compliance -- what constrains you from following Peter’s example? By listening attentively, openly, and with a docile spirit, perhaps one day you can write your own acts-of-a-disciple story on the heart of someone in need of a strong witness for Christ. John’s first letter declares simply and powerfully, “God is love.” The author of love initiates by loving us first without requiring our perfection. St. Jerome wrote that the apostle John, in the last years of his life, would say, “My children; love one another!” When asked why he insisted on this he replied, “Because it is the Lord’s commandment, and if you keep just this commandment, it will change your life.” The lives of great saints testify to our ability to perform heroic deeds. Because God is love, we can love, because God is holy, we can be holy; because God is merciful and forgiving we can be merciful and forgiving. True love comes from God who provides the building materials for our eternal home. The love that the Lord wants us to experience is life- changing and life-giving. Jesus said, I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). In today’s Gospel, Jesus commands us to love one another as he loved us (John 15:12). Can anyone be commanded to love, to control their emotions instead of letting them run wild? We treat love as a warm, cozy, fuzzy feeling. We write books, songs, and do outrageous things to ‘prove’ our love for someone. A couple hired professional photographers, a private helicopter, a minister and additional people for witnesses to accompany them as they climbed Mt. Everest to get married on one of the peaks -- no expense is too high for love. In 2016, the average cost of a wedding in New York was $88,000 -- we hold back nothing for ‘love.’ Yes, God can command us to love. Jesus reminds his disciples he is the vine, they are the branches, and he chose them to bear much fruit, by imitating his words and deeds. The link between Jesus as vine and us as branches is pointed out in the words, “Remain in me as I remain in you … whoever remains in me will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5). It speaks of the commandment to love neighbor as Jesus loved us; unconditionally even if not earned or deserved. This demands a change of heart, mind, and a move contrary to cultural norms. Luke 16:19-31 tells the story of Lazarus, a poor beggar, and a rich man who ignored him. The rich man did no overt harm to Lazarus, he simply did nothing to help him, and for that he landed in torment in the abode of the dead. Jesus commandment for us to love neighbor as he loves us is based on our putting into practice the Lord’s words and imitating his deeds. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:13-14a). On opening night of RCIA, we asked candidates to introduce themselves and tell why they were here. One introduced himself as a ‘devout atheist’ who was there as a dare of some friends. After Easter Vigil I asked some newly received Catholics to write about their RCIA faith journey. 1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 Responsorial Psalm: 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 2nd Reading: 1 John 4:7-10 Gospel: John 15:9-17 6th Sunday of Easter Got change? Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries SEE SUNDAY SCRIPTURE COMMENTARIES, PAGE 7