6 th May, 2007

Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year C

S: Good morning - Today we are reminded that the risen Lord calls us to love one another, that we are to live in the present and promote Justice in our society.

B: Our word of life for today comes from John’s Gospel, where Jesus says “I give you a new commandment, love one another as I have loved you”, and if we sometimes wondered how much God loves us - all we have to do is think back to Good Friday – Jesus, arms outstretched - dying on the cross - that’s how much he loves us.

S: Bishop Murray in his Pastoral Letter for 2007 called “Never Alone” writes: “Loving others as we love ourselves is more demanding than it sounds. In our diocese there are brothers and sisters, belonging to God’s community as we do, loved by God as we are, who live in situations that the rest of us would find intolerable. People live surrounded by burnt out cars and burnt out houses, in places where people are driven from their homes.” Bishop Murray asks: “Do we love them as Jesus loves us? Loving them as we love ourselves would mean responding to their situation as if it were our own.”

And so this morning we thank God for all his goodness to us – we pray that we will never fail to appreciate his gifts to us and most especially the gift of love, and understand that these as gifts are for the whole community, and not just a select few.

B: Our reflection this morning is called “My Prayer”

Today I stopped, dear Lord,

to think of all the things You’ve done;

Of all the tears you’ve dried for me and all the battles won.

Of all the times my head hung low without a friend to care,

now looking back, I clearly see that You were always there.

You’ve heard my prayers, when no one knew

the pain I felt inside,

So many times, no words would come and I just knelt and cried.

But somewhere deep inside of me I hear Your gentle voice,

That circumstance is no excuse and victory is a choice!

Lord, one more thing I ask of You, as I go now on my way,

That all the love and blessing sent I may, somehow, repay.

May those I meet, wherever I go, see Christ in all I do,

And may all my deeds and all my ways

say Lord, how much I love you.

S: You’ve been listening to “Just a thought” with Seamus Madigan

B: and Brenda Cribbin. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Offices at Henry Street. You can also download your own copy of this reflection by clicking on limerickdiocese.org

S: We look forward to your company again next week, so take care...

S & B: Bye !!!!!!!

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