Thursday of the 5th week of Eastertide 

Do we accept one another in the same spirit that God loves us?

Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 95(96):1-3,10
John 15:9-11

Our Lord Jesus, in all His glorious splendor, made an incredible choice—He left the heights of heaven to come down to earth to save us while we were still sinners! Can you believe it? He is God, yet He welcomed us as His friends! Today, Jesus shares a powerful message: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you (John 15:9).” It’s a call to love that resonates deeply.

But let’s pause for a moment—do we accept each other in the same spirit? Are we open to respecting different ideas, or do we wait for others to accept our views before we embrace theirs? What truly defines the core of our Christianity?

Living out the commandments of love from Jesus is our blueprint to staying connected to Him. Loving God and our neighbors isn’t just a duty—it fills our hearts with joy and unites us in amazing ways. It’s about accepting people just as they are, just as God has called them. True repentance ignites our desire to love selflessly and to make sacrifices for the good of others.

Let’s pray to God for guidance in this journey of love. Together, let’s be vibrant instruments of love and peace in the world. Amen!

Fr Joseph Osho