6th Sunday of Easter

Our readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter are:

1. Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48
2. Psalms 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4
3. 1 John 4: 7-10
4. John 15: 9-17

• Catching up to the Holy Spirit
• It seems as though even the early apostles sometimes let their past history limit what they thought God could/would do.
• How can we be more open to the movements of the Spirit?
• Do you think that sacraments evolve over time to meet new needs, or are they transcendent, or both?
• Who participates in that ongoing creative activity?

• Your idea of salvation may not be mine
• It seems that it is nearly impossible for nations to simply leave each other alone in peace these days.  Anything that benefits one group, one tribe, one nation always seems to come at a cost to another.
• What do we mean when we talk about the Lord's salvation at a community, or national level?
• How do you think God can bring about peace to our world, at this time?
• What role do we have in making that peace?

• Taking it easy
• A wise Jesuit brother once shared with us that as he has prayed longer, he prays simpler.
• How can we let go of more in our prayer life and let God do more?
• When does that become simple laziness?

• You already have what you need:
• You have to wonder what went through the first disciple's minds when Jesus said "I have told you everything I have heard from my Father."  I'd be wondering whether I missed a lecture or two along the way, because I sure would not feel as though I had the complete "how to" of Christianity.
• Acting out of love implies that we know what is best for another.  How do we learn that?
• God's actions often seem hard for us to understand.  If we are god-like, will we be hard to understand?
• Do you ever think that Jesus felt lonely in his ministry?
• How can we minster to that loneliness today?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Is my heart open to God breaking through in the lives of others?
2. What am I doing to bring about peace in my time?
3. How are my desires coming closer to God's?
4. What am I doing to make better use of the graces that I already have?

Shalom!