＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Acts 10:25-26,34-35, 44-48

 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius went to him, fell on his knees and bowed low. But Peter lifted him up saying, “Stand up, for I too am a human being.”  Peter then spoke to them, “Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality, but in all nations he listens to everyone who fears God and does good. 

Peter was still speaking when the Holy Spirit came upon all who listened to the Word. And the believers of Jewish origin who had come with Peter were amazed, “Why! God gives and pours the Holy Spirit on foreigners also!” For indeed this hap­­pened: they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

 Then Peter declared, “Can we refuse to baptize with water these people who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we have?” So he had them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. After that they asked him to remain with them for some days.

 

Ps 98:1, 2b-3, 3-4

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 John 4:7-10

 My dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Those who do not love have not known God, for God is love.

 How did the love of God appear among us? God sent his only Son into this world that we might have life through him.

 This is love: not that we loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊    

John 15:9-17

 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends; and you are my friends if you do what I command you.

 I shall not call you servants any more, be­cause servants do not know what their mas­ter is about. Instead I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father.

You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

 This is my command, that you love one another.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read: Jesus discloses His greatest commandment to His disciples. They must love one another just as Jesus loved them with the love of the Father. Their love must become concretized in their obedience to His will. Because of this, they will now be His friends sharing in the life of fruitfulness. And everything they will ask the Father in Jesus’ name will be granted them.

Reflect: The first commandment that Jesus gives His disciples before His passion is for them to love one another. This love must be obedient to His words and be self giving. For the highest expression of love is to give oneself without regard for one’s own wellbeing so that others may experience fullness of life.

And He showed the way when later He gave up His life for the Salvation of all. Without regard for self, He plunged headlong into His passion and death. This selfless act of giving resulted in a new and transformed life when He rose from the dead. For death is weak when faced with the power of love.

And Jesus elevated His disciples to the position of friends. Love seeks not to differentiate but to unite. Friendship is what unites the disciples to the master. This unity in a relationship that does away with the master-follower distinction. From this time on, the disciples will follow the master not out of fear but because of love.

Respond: How do we love? That is the question today. For love has many sides, some of them not so true and good. We need to go back to the author of love, that is, God, in order to situate our love. Does it follow Jesus’ way of loving or not? If not, we have all the time from today to judgment Day to make adjustments.