THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER AND THE COMMAND TO LOVE.....MOTHER'S DAY USA..........

On this 6th Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate Mother's Day in the United States, we are commanded by Jesus in the Gospel Proclamation, John 14:23-29, to, Love Him and to keep His Word, that by doing so we may Love both the God the Father and God the Son, thus having the ability to Love one another. In our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 15:1-2; 22-29;, we hear of the experience of Paul and Brnabas and the oother disciples with them in their mission of eva ngelization to the Gentiles. Debate and dissension over the question of the necessity for circumcision as a requirement of conversion to Christ and other Jewish practices arose that required addressing by the elders of the Church and involved compromise, to arrive at an answer acceptable to both Jews and Gentiles in regards to the newfound Christian Faith. Compromise as I can tell you as atudent of political science, government, and history, is a definition of politics. But it is also a definition of life and successful, productive, interpersonal relationships. The consensus of the early Church was for the Gentiles to accept some of the long held Jewish teachings to become members of the Christian Community of Believers, but not have to circumcized as a requirement for admission. This past Thursday's British General Election is another very good example of what the Acts of the Apostles passage today is teaching us. The people of Great Britain voted inconclusively last week, delivering a hung Parliament, no political party have won a majority of the parliamentary seats. The major party leaders are thus having to negotiate, compromise, and achieve at least a temporary consensus, in order to form a government and lead and serve their fellow citizens as the next Government. Law is an essential, undeniable, facet of a well ordered society. But Law alone is insufficient, it tends toward legalism that is rigid and staid. Love must also be included in the lives of believers and citizens to complete the Law. The spirit of the Law is Love and the letter of the Law is Legalism.
On this annual day in the United States designated in honor of our Mothers, Grandmothers, and other significant women in our lives, we also witness an excellent example of Love. Today we take time in a concerted way to acknowledge, appreciate, and affirm, the Love mothers provide us with and the contribution to the betterment and well being of our lives they make. As we seek to Love God by Loving Others, may the Love you express for and to your Mothers and Granmothers today, be the renewal of Love present daily in your lives..........With Faith, Hope, And Love in Jesus the Risen Christ, Fr. Troy