There is a golden thread that runs through today's Scriptural readings: it is God's love that makes the world go 'round.

ACTS 15:1-2, 22-29 
PS 67:2-3,5,6,8 
REV 21:10-14, 22-23 
JN 14:23-29

I was watching a documentary the other day about Fred Rogers and his PBS show, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I was struck by how much this man exuded the love that Jesus expected us to show to everyone, even our enemies. The filmmaker asked Mr. Rogers' son what it was like having him for a father. He said it was like having a second Christ for a father. Wow! Can you imagine someone saying that about us? Yet, this gentle loving soul that was Fred Rogers spent his life loving and healing others, particularly children, but adults as well. 

Jesus told his disciples to let the children come to him, for such were the ones who dwelt in heaven. Well, Fred Rogers spent his whole career welcoming children. But why? Because he loved them. Jesus' whole ministry was about showing God's love to to others. Saint Paul said that a life without love was meaningless. So what is love? Perhaps we should ask, "Who is love?" The answer is God and all those who love others as he loves us. And today's readings give us an amazing look into the working of God's plan throughout salvation history and his love for humanity.

Before the world began, let us imagine God bursting with a love that he wanted to share. Did God need to create us? No, he was totally self-sufficient. He did not need anyone or anything to feel complete. Yet, love can not be contained. It seeks release. And that's why he created us: to know, love and serve him, and spend eternity with him in heaven. 

So, let us travel back through the mists of time to the story of the creation of the world. We see that God was very satisfied with what he had created. "It was good." But it didn't take long for man to rebel and find himself locked out of Paradise. Yet, God's love would not let him abandon his creation. He would one day send his Son, the son of Adam and David, to save us and establish a new covenant between God and man. 

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. 

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. They wrote these things by their hand:

“The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” ACTS 15:1-2, 22-29 

But first, he would need to prepare us for his coming. In the Old Testament, we see the Jews studying the Torah, trying to follow the 10 Commandments given to Moses, and burdening themselves with over 600 rules in the Mosaic law. In our first reading, we see the Apostles deciding to not force new converts, the Gentiles, to be circumcised which the Mosaic law required. 

Here is a perfect example of how the Old Testament connects to the New Testament: God loves his people and did not want to burden the Gentiles with rules that more often than not impeded man's relationship with his creator. Yet, he did not want to offend the Jews by throwing out all their rituals and customs. (Even Jesus was circumcised, read the Torah, and followed the rules.) So the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostles to keep just four rules: no eating food for idol worship (but Paul will eventually abandon this regulation as well), no eating of strangled animals or meat from which the blood had not been drained, and no illicit marriages. 

So we see that God established new rules that would satisfy the Jews raised in the Mosaic law and the Gentiles who would have balked at circumcision and all those rules. But why did God do it? Out of love. He wanted to create a way for us to re-enter Paradise. And God's way was not hidden. He left footprints, so to speak, through history to show us that he was working on the problem. God was revealing himself and his plan for our salvation by creating a church that was rooted in the past, growing in the present, and destined for glory in the future. ACTS 15:1-2, 22-29 

That your way may be known on earth,
    and your salvation among all nations,
let the peoples praise you, God.
    Let all the peoples praise you.
Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you will judge the peoples with equity,
    and govern the nations on earth.
Selah.
Let the peoples praise you, God.
    Let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase.
    God, even our own God, will bless us.
God will bless us.
    All the ends of the earth shall fear him. PS 67:2-3,5,6,8

Here in psalm 67 we see that the psalmist was affirming that God would bless his church where all nations, Jewish and Gentile, would come together in fellowship. Yep, another footprint. And yes, God blesses us because he loves us.

He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. REV 21:10-14, 22-23 

In Revelation, John reveals the future church re-established on earth, rooted in the past (the names of the 12 tribes of Israel), connected to the present (the names of the 12 Apostles), and God and his Son, the Son of Adam and David, filling the church with their glory. God's love will be on full display. And, yes, John's revelation is another sign that God is Emmanuel, he is with us.

Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. I have said these things to you, while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe. JN 14:23-29

Jesus is talking about the Father loving us because we love Jesus. And we should pay attention because Jesus is revealing the Father's words, not his. And to make sure that we understand what the Father is saying, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to instruct his followers and remind them of all that Jesus had preached. And Jesus gives them advanced notice of what his church is going to experience in the immediate future. Again, we see the Father's love for his people revealed through Jesus, and more evidence that the Father was, is and will always be active in his church. 

Who can read these words and not know that God has always loved us, has always been, and will always be with us?

As Mr. Rogers was dying, he asked his wife if she thought that he was a sheep. He was referring to the Last Judgment when Jesus would separate the sheep from the goats. His wife replied that if anyone was a sheep, it was Fred. Rest in peace, Mr. Rogers. We know that you are with God, just as you were when you lived with us on earth. May others say the same about us!

Now go in peace knowing that God loves you.

John

Today's readings are about God's love for us, the persecution we must endure as Christians, and the pure happiness the faithful will enjoy in heaven on earth.

Acts 14:21-27
Psalms 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
John 13:31-33, 34-35
Revelation 21:1-5

When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. Acts 14:21-27

Is today's persecution of Christians a new affliction? The earliest Christians were fed to the lions. St. Paul himself was imprisoned, beaten, and beheaded. But Paul encouraged us to keep the faith to win the race, to "enter into God's Kingdom."

[The Lord] is gracious, merciful,
    slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
9 [The Lord] is good to all.
    His tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All your works will give thanks to you, [Lord].
    Your saints will extol you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom,
    and talk about your power;
12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,
    the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
    Your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The Lord] is faithful in all his words,
    and loving in all his deeds. Psalms 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

Does God realize how much his people suffer as they try to remain faithful to his precepts? Of course. That's why he is so gracious, merciful, kind and even-tempered. He knows we are weak and will fall many times on our journey. He's always there to pick us up and to nudge us in the right direction if we lose our way. 

Yes, it seems that God grades our efforts on the "curve." Many of us would not have passed some of our college classes if the professor had not graded us on the "curve." I received a "12" on my biology midterm and that turned out be be a "B!" The professor even approached me in the library shortly afterward and asked if I had thought about pursuing a career in science! Who says miracles do not happen today?! Apparently, God was not going to let me fail biology. Thank you, Father, for being so kind and merciful to me in biology! (And no,I did not major in the sciences. I majored in French and Spanish education. A man's got to know his limitations!)

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31-33, 34-35

So how are we to treat those who persecute us? We must love them as Jesus loves us. Wow! The Old Testament only required that we love God and our neighbor. Now we must love our enemy as well. We all have been hurt by insensitive and sometimes evil people. We do not forget, but we must forgive. Jesus forgave his enemies from the cross. In the "Lord's Prayer," we beg God to forgive us as we forgive those who offend us. 

The secular world will recognize us as Christians by the way we display our love for others, especially our enemies. I have a strong feeling that Jesus will also judge us at the Judgment Seat according to how we loved and forgave others. Jesus is quoted as saying to a sinner as he cast her into hell, "I do not know you!" In other words, Jesus could not see himself in the sinner who made no attempt to love others as he had loved her. 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”  He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” Revelation 21:1-5

And how does our love for others culminate in regard to God? In marriage! We, the Church, are the bride; God is the groom. But unlike our earthly marriage where we promise to love our spouse even in sickness and poverty until death, God pledges to give us nothing but happiness and an end to suffering, pain and mourning. Who would not want a marriage like that?

So let us keep running the race, persevering in our faith, striving to do what right and just, and loving others as Jesus loves us.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May he look with favor upon you and be gracious to you. May he give you peace by healing you and providing all that you need to live life abundantly.

John

Today's readings portray God as the Good shepherd. But who are the sheep?

Acts 13:14,43-52
Psalm 100:1-3,5
Rev 7:9,14-17
John 10:27-30


But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. 

Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,

‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles,
    that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”

As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:14,43-52

In this chapter of Acts, we see once again that it is God's grace that leads people to conversion. The Jews, fearful of losing control, refused to believe, but the Greeks (Gentiles), inspired by the Holy Spirit, were receptive to the words of Paul, the shepherd. 

Shout for joy to [the Lord], all you lands!
2     Serve [the Lord] with gladness.
    Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know that [the lord], he is God.
    It is he who has made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
    into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For [the lord] is good.
    His loving kindness endures forever,
    his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:1-3,5

Psalm 100 is a song of thanksgiving to God, the Shepherd, by the Gentiles ("all the lands") for the mercy and care he bestows on his people, both Jew and Gentile. They acknowledge that God chose them by grace ("he made us") to become his followers ("the sheep of his pasture") and they accepted ("we are his"). Moreover, God's loving care will continue through all future generations.


After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

I told him, “My lord, you know.”

He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev 7:9,14-17

John sees all God's children, Jew and Gentile, in heaven standing before the throne of Jesus, the Lamb, whose sacrificial blood has saved them.  Like the Good Shepherd, Jesus will satisfy all his sheep's needs. There will be no more hunger, thirst, or suffering of any kind. Because of Jesus, the sheep will drink from "springs of waters of (eternal) life."

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

John depicts the sheep as those who were called by Jesus and believed, i.e., their hearts were opened by grace and they accepted Jesus as their savior. Eternal life is now theirs and the evil one will never again be in a position to ensnare their souls. And by whose authority does Jesus speak? His own and God's, for He and the Father are one! Alleluia!

Now go and sanctify your life by loving and serving God and one another!

John

Today's readings are about love, forgiveness and dependence on God. 

Acts 5: 27-32, 40-41
Ps 30: 2, 4-6, 11-13
Rev 5: 11-14
John 21: 1-19

Let us begin with Psalm 30:

[Lord] my God, I cried to you,
and you have healed me.

Sing praise to [the Lord], you saints of his.
    Give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment.
    His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may stay for the night,
    but joy comes in the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
    You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
12     To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. 
[Lord] my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Ps 30: 2, 4-6, 11-13

David wrote Psalm 30 to thank God for saving him in times of trouble. When things were going well for David, he thought he would continue to be successful on his own. Pride made him believe that he was a self-made man who needed no help from God. He soon learned that as he faced disaster, only God could help him turn defeat into victory. In response, David pledges to praise God forever. But suppose God had delayed his assistance. How would David have responded then? Would he have still praised God? God doesn't need fair weather friends. Yet, he knows our shortcomings and loves us anyway. And for that, we should be truly grateful.

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John 21: 1-19

After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”

They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?”

They answered him, “No.”

He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits[a] away), dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.”

None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?”

Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21: 1-19

In John's gospel we see that Peter and other disciples were reverting back to old habits. Now that Jesus had risen from the grave, things were starting to get back to normal and perhaps Peter and his crew were becoming lax in their zeal for the Lord. But Jesus had other plans for them in mind. 

First, Jesus gave them a simple lesson in dependence on God. They had fished all night and caught nothing. But as soon as he told them where to drop their net, they caught 153 fish! Like a parent concerned for the nourishment of his children, Jesus had already started a fire to prepare them breakfast. He even called them "children"!

Then Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him more than the others loved him. Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Now Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love for Jesus three times. And Jesus for his part wanted to make it clear that he had forgiven Peter for denying him. 

Peter in his heart knew that Jesus knew that Peter loved him because Jesus knew everything. He was God! So was Jesus going to let Peter return to things as they were before he met Jesus? No way! Jesus told him to follow him, although that road would eventually lead to Peter's own crucifixion. We know that Peter's suffering would end with eternal joy in heaven. That is the same lesson David had learned in Psalm 30. God will turn mourning into dancing for those who love him.

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Acts 5: 27-32, 40-41

When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. Acts 5: 27-32, 40-41

Here Peter is anything but lax in defending his preaching of the gospel. They even praised God for allowing them to be beaten because of their testimony! For the apostles, obedience was paramount. They would not be bullied into silence. How could they be silent when they had seen their Lord sacrifice his life for the forgiveness of their sins? They knew that suffering for defending God lasted only a short time, but their joy in heaven would last forever. God expects us today to stand up for our faith: correct others when they offend God; sign petitions; support financially those who need help paying for lawyers to defend themselves. We must make our voices heard. Judgment Day is coming! There will be a reckoning. 

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Rev 5: 11-14

I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”

I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The elders fell down and worshiped. Rev 5: 11-14

And who will judge us? The Lamb of God who is seated at the right hand of the Father. Let us not be found wanting when we appear before his Judgment Seat! How will you answer Jesus' question to Peter? "Do you love me more than these?" Do you love God more than wealth, success, power, or pleasure? Let us show the world how much we love God while we still have the time!

Now go and serve our King!

John