6 th Sunday of Easter – Year A

1 st May 2005

S: A very good morning to you on this first day of summer! In the Celtic tradition the beginning of each season was celebrated with a special festival. This is ‘Bealtaine’ – the start of the month of May. Bealtaine is the Irish word for May.

B: Our Word of Life for today comes from John’s Gospel.

If you love me you will keep my commandments.

Here, Jesus really puts it to us, if there is love then we will be happy enough to make a response to that love and the response that is being looked at today is to keep God’s Commandments. We are to love God and our neighbour.

S: So when there is love, there is action! We are happy to be people of reconciliation and peace. We are happy to talk about God in our lives, if we truly believe that we are loved by God.

We need to put our trust in God and really believe that God loves us beyond our wildest dreams.

B: I guess for some of us this can be difficult in that we only know God through the experience of others. And in this way we treat him like a doctor or dentist - we know where he is but we will only call on him when we are hurting. So we only go to God in times when we feel we need him. Every relationship needs minding and care. This also applies to our relationship with God. And in this month of May – the month of Our Lady, we look to her example of how to care, how to love. Mary loved in a trusting way that even went beyond her own understanding.

S: This morning our reflection is called “Best Friend”.

The Lord is my refuge

My Haven of “Rest”

He shields and protects me

When faced with “Life’s Tests”

I go to Him always in prayer for release,

He never forsakes me

but gives me His peace

I fret not - nor worry

Burdens are laid at His feet -

I trust and obey Him

Whenever we meet!

Be happy - not fretful

Be glad and not sad,

The Lord is my “Keeper”

The “Best Friend” I have.

B: You have been listening to Just a Thought with Brenda Cribbin

S: and Seamus Madigan. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Offices at 66 O’Connell Street. If you would like a copy of this reflection you can download it by clicking on www.limerickdiocese.org

B: We look forward to your company again next week, in the meantime, take care.

S & B: BYEEE

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