May 19, 2019 5th Sunday of Easter-C

Acts of the Apostles 14:21-27

Psalm 145

Revelation 21:1-5

John 13:31-35

“As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”  John 13:34

Lord, loving others as you have loved me seems an impossible task.  You are God so how can I, a sinful human being, possibly attain your level of love?  Yet you gave us this new commandment for a reason.  All I need do to see how much you love us is to gaze at a crucifix.  Before your suffering and death one of your last acts of love was that you washed your disciples’ feet.  Maybe that is a good place for me to start.  Perhaps, instead of giving up loving like you do is such a high bar, I can start by washing the feet of those you have put into my life.  There is someone in my family that is struggling with a relationship.  I could be an agent of healing.   I know a friend who is divorced and is losing hope for happiness.  I could encourage her.  There is a coworker who has lost a child.  I can be a good listener in his grief.   I can visit the lonely and pray for those addicted or incarcerated.  Above all, I need your help, dear Jesus, to begin to love like you.  Amen.