Morning Message: May 12

Jesus wants all people to live happy and healthy lives.  He tells us how to make that happen.  The word love is mentioned six times in today’s reading.  The word abide means “to stay” or “remain.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.  This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Think about this silently in your heart.  Whom can you tell that you love them today?
Jesus didn’t issue commandments to control and dominate us but rather he offers them as paths to true happiness.  His sole intention is that “my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).  The mark of a true Christian then surely is joy. There is no purpose in setting out to love others, without first trusting in how much loved we are ourselves.  The deepest joys and satisfactions of life have to do with our experience of loving and being loved.  That is how Jesus went about it, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you”.  We need to abide in Jesus’s love to learn how we are to love others.
Let us pray…We rejoice and are glad, O God.  We long to remain in your love and to keep your commandments.  Please give us the grace we need.  We ask this in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.
Boys and girls, as you go about your day today, remember to share the joy.  Make sure you show your love and appreciation to all those with whom you interact with today, especially your parents, brothers and sisters, and lastly, your teachers and friends you see in your virtual classroom.
Have a wonderful day!