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In today's first reading Saul is on the scene with Barnabas and he wants to join in with the disciples but they are afraid of him, because they did not believe his intentions to become a disciple were true.  After all, he was one who persecuted Jews.  Barnabas speaks on Saul's behalf and tells of Saul's encounter of the Lord, and how the Lord had spoken to him.

The Church throughout all of Judea, Galilee and Samaria was at peace and grew in numbers because "it was being built up and walked in fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit."

Let us never forget the praise that is due God.  Our highest form of worship is the holy Mass.  We assemble together as the Body of Christ in thanksgiving and praise for all that God has done and continues to do for us.  When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, our response is "Amen"; Yes Lord, I believe!  All praise, honor and glory to God!

In today's second reading John says, "Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth."

He reminds us to keep God's commandments; to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.  If we do this, we remain in Him and He in us.  We are capable of loving in this way because God gives us the Spirit to do so.  Let us remember the life of the Holy Spirit inside us and his gifts.  Let us nurture these gifts of the Spirit to live the way of love!

 

In today's gospel Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower... Remain in Me, as I remain in you.....I am the vine, you are the branches."

Jesus and the Father are connected by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the love of God the Father and God the Son.  Three persons in one God. They are connected forever.  We too have this eternal connection with God if we remain IN him.  God is always with us.  God is always calling us to himself.  Our response to this call, this invitation is either Yes, Lord or No, Lord.  If we are to remain "on the vine"/connected, we must remain IN Him.  If we remain on the vine, we will bear fruit and "much" fruit at that.

In a press release announcing the initiative, the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization explains that “in response to the Holy Father’s heartfelt wish, the month of May will be dedicated to a ‘marathon’ of prayer, to ask for the end of the pandemic, which has afflicted the world for more than a year now, and to ask for the resumption of social and work activities".

I encourage you to pray the Rosary as a family.  If the Rosary is new to you, pray at least a decade and grow from there.  If you need rosaries or pamphlets on how to pray the Rosary, please let me know (you can respond to this note.)

May is the month we dedicate and honor Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother too.  We begin our celebration of Mary with a May crowning this first weekend of May. We continue to honor her by bringing her flowers throughout the month.  We also can make a special effort to pray the Holy Rosary and reflect on the life of her son, Jesus.  Mary so loves us, that she is our "great intercessor".  She brings all of our prayers straight to her son.  What a mother we have in Mary!