“Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.” (John 15:9)

Today [May 5] we celebrate not only the Mother’s Day, but also the Sixth Sunday of Easter. We continue to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the victory over sin and death, who wills to share the joy of eternal life with each one of us and uniting completely with us through the sacraments.

The readings in recent weeks invite us to reflect our oneness with Christ (stones and cornerstone; sheep and Good Shepherd; branches and vine). Jesus Christ invites us to remain in Him to produce much fruit. However, to “remain,” to “join,” to “connect,” to “unite,” to “bond” with one another in reality is not always an easy task. Very often it requires a lot of sacrificial, outpouring, responsible and mature love in charity.

Jesus explains that our relationship with Him is possible only when we love God above all else and keep His commandments to love one another freely and fully as He has shown us. Jesus proves the depths of His love for us and that of God for humanity by laying down His life so that we may live. Indeed, human beings have no greater friend than Jesus Christ, whose personal choice and abiding and selfless outpouring love transforms slaves and sinners to friends, brothers and sisters. Such a great gift should be reflected in all our interactions with God and one another because the essence of God is love and only love can truly unite and not divide.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to repent our sins, reflect on our vocation of dynamic Christian discipleship to live a holy life to fulfill God’s will and obtain our salvation.

How can we remain and communicate Christ’s love?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.