Hard-earned Love: The Fifth Sunday of Easter 2025

                                                       Hard-earned Love:

The Fifth Sunday of Easter 2025 

May 18, 2025

www.johnpredmoresj.com | predmore.blogspot.com

predmoresj@yahoo.com | 617.510.9673

Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

 

The glory statements contained in this Gospel passage are hard to follow, but it helps us hear the central statement more clearly: We are to love one another. We will be known as Christians by the love we show one another, and love is seen by one’s actions, not by what one professes. The early disciples showed their love for one another by strengthening the spirits of others and guiding one another through difficult times. The early Christians, after enduring hardships, came together to celebrate what God had done to them, especially opening the doors to the Gentiles. They sincerely cared for one another and felt such gratitude in being together.

 

We know that love is hard work and it makes us ask what might love look like in our closest relationships for a Christian today? Love is a mutual sharing of who one is and what one has with the beloved. To be able to share in this way is to develop foundational trust, which is the bedrock for a solid relationship. To be able to share fully who one is means that the other person must accept the other person and to have one’s heart moved with affection towards the other person. It often means sitting with someone and listening to the person’s story. In very many relationships, we do not allow the other person in deeply enough to love us. It is frightening and vulnerable and we become uncomfortable with this level of intimacy. It is what must happen if we are to deepen our love for one another. 

 

If we are ever going to love others, or at least tolerate them, then we must learn to sit and to listen. Being silent is not listening. Listening is a very active process by which one seeks to understand another’s perspective. It means that we are not there to correct, to interrupt, to teach, or to judge. We are there to build trust so deeper sharing can occur. We inquire, we ask open-ended questions, we help the other person clarify one’s thoughts and to find the right word to convey what one is thinking and feeling. We paraphrase what we think the other person is saying, and we ask, “do I understand you enough?” We have to remain open. We give the person time to articulate and express freely what is happening inside of them. We will know when we get the other person because she or he will tell us. We will notice the relaxation one feels because the person feels heard, respected, and valued. Trust is being built. Loneliness dissipates. Bonds of belonging are tightened. This is earned love. This is the type of love lacking in society today, and it is the hard work that we must do in order to heal ourselves and the world.

 

While listening is fundamental towards understanding and compassion, choosing the right words to nourish the relationship is the next step. We are all harmed by the wrong words that cause pain and misperceptions. Wrong or hurtful statements can inextricably set back a relationship and cause it to fracture. The right language based upon trusting one’s goodwill can restore the bonds and forge greater trust. We have to know that someone cares. Skillfully choosing the right words that respects the truth and encourages the person will create positive energy and goodwill and will give the person hope and a sense of connection.

 

We can love others genuinely by developing these skills. We prove our love by our care for others so that trust is generated. We can use these skills in our closest friendships, within families, with friends and neighbors, and with our adversaries. This is the hard-earned love that we need today. This is the synodal love that is intended for the church to grow and prosper with greater faith and credibility. Our love is manifested by our radical respect for each person, so that boundaries are erased, and bonds of friendship are forged. It is possible. In fact, it is our mandate. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Acts 14) As Gentiles and Jews in Iconium were about to attack Paul and Barnabas, they fled to Lystra where Paul healed a lame man.  

 

Tuesday: (Acts 14) The crowds began to put their faith in Paul and Barnabas as gods, but the men protested and told the story of the Christ event. Opposition to Paul increased shortly afterwards and he was stoned. They left for Derbe to strengthen the disciples in those cities and encouraged them during their times of hardship.

 

Wednesday: (Acts 15) Some of Paul’s Jewish opposition raised the question of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic laws. Along the way to Jerusalem to seek the advice of the Apostles, they told everyone of the conversion of the Gentiles.

 

Thursday: (Acts 15) After much debate, Peter and James decided that no further restrictions were to be made on the Gentiles.

 

Friday (Acts 15) The Apostles and presbyters chose representatives and sent them to Paul and Barnabas with word that the Gentiles were indeed welcomed into the faith with no extra hardships placed upon them. The people were delighted with the good news.

 

Saturday (Acts 13) In Derbe and Lystra, Paul heard of a man named Timothy who was well regarded by the believers. Paul had him circumcised and they travelled to Macedonia to proclaim the good news.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 14) In the Farewell Discourse, Jesus reassures his disciples that he will remain with them if they keep his commandments to love one another. 

 

Tuesday: (John 14) To punctuate his message of consolation, he tells them he will send an advocate to teach and remind them of all he told them.

 

Wednesday (John 15) Jesus leaves them with his lasting peace that will help them endure many difficult times. This peace will allow us people to remain close to him – organically as he is the vine and we are the branches. 

 

Thursday (John 15) Remaining close to Jesus will allow us to share complete joy with one another. 

 

Friday (John 15) Jesus once again proves his love to his friends by saying that the true friend, the Good Shepherd, will lay down his life for his friends.  

 

Saturday (John 14) However, even with the love of Jesus, his followers will experience hatred in this world, but as his friends and as God’s elect, their harm can never really harm the souls of a believer.

 

Saints of the Week

 

May 18: John I, pope and martyr (d. 526), was a Tuscan who became pope under the rule of Theodoric the Goth, an Arian. Theodoric opposed Emperor Justin I in Constantinople who persecuted Arians. John was sent to Justin to end the persecutions. He returned to great glory, but Theodoric was not satisfied, though Justin met all his demands. John was imprisoned and soon died because of ill treatment.

 

May 20: Bernardine of Siena, priest, (1380-1444) was from a family of nobles who cared for the sick during plagues. He entered the Franciscans and preached across northern and central Italy with homilies that understood the needs of the laity. He became vicar general and instituted reforms. 

 

May 21: Christopher Magallanes, priest and companions, martyrs (1869-1927) was a Mexican priest who served the indigenous people by forming agrarian communities. He opened seminaries when the ant-Catholic government kept shutting them down. He was arrested and executed with 21 priests and 3 laymen. 

 

May 22: Rita of Cascia, religious (1381-1457), always wanted to become a nun but her family married her off to an abusive man. He was murdered 18 years later. Rita urged forgiveness when her two sons wanted to avenge their father's murder. They soon died too. Rita wanted to enter a convent, but he marital status kept her out. Eventually, the Augustinians in Cascia admitted her. She became a mystic and counselor to lay visitors.

 

May 24: Our Lady of the Way or in Italian, Madonna della Strada, is a painting enshrined at the Church of the Gesu in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus. The Madonna Della Strada is the patroness of the Society of Jesus. In 1568, Cardinal Farnese erected the Gesu in place of the former church of Santa Maria della Strada.  

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• May 18, 1769. The election of Cardinal Lorenzo Ganganelli as Pope Clement XIV. He was the pope who suppressed the Society. 
• May 19, 1652. Birth of Paul Hoste mathematician and expert on construction of ships and history of naval warfare. 
• May 20, 1521. Ignatius was seriously wounded at Pamplona, Spain, while defending its fortress against the French. 
• May 21, 1925. Pius XI canonizes Peter Canisius, with Teresa of the Child Jesus, Mary Madeleine Postal, Madeleine Sophie Barat, John Vianney, and John Eudes. Canisius is declared a Doctor of the Church. 
• May 22, 1965. Pedro Arrupe was elected the 28th general of the Society of Jesus. 
• May 23, 1873. The death of Peter de Smet, a famous missionary among Native Americans of the great plains and mountains of the United States. He served as a mediator and negotiator of several treaties. 
• May 24, 1834. Don Pedro IV expelled the Society from Brazil.