Readings for this Sunday:
Acts 10:25–26, 34–35, 44–48
Ps 98:1, 2–3, 3–4 (Rx see 2b or Alleluia) 1
John 4:7–10
John 15:9–17
Anne Lamott’s priest friend, Tom, told her, “You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do” (Bird by Bird, page 21). In today’s first reading from Acts, no one was more astounded than Peter and his companions when they visited the house of Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army and a servant to Caesar. Recall that it was the Roman soldiers under the reign of Caesar who beat and crucified Jesus. Surely Peter and his companions walked into the Roman guard’s home with some assumptions about who should deserve God’s hate. But Acts describes Cornelius as upright, God-fearing, and respected by the whole Jewish nation. He prayed constantly to God and gave alms to support the Jewish people. And upon receiving an angelic vision, he summoned Peter to come to his home and preach the Gospel of Jesus there.
God indeed shows no partiality when it comes to the gift of divine love. But we humans are experts at prejudice and believing we know the mind of God. This is why Jesus’s single commandment is to love, plain and simple, for everyone who loves knows God. Love will be the key that opens the doors between enemies and binds them in self-giving love.
–Diana Macalintal
Suggested Music
All the Ends of the Earth
Chris de Silva
G-9527 · Two-part mixed voices, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar, C instrument, cello
MYSTAGOGY MOMENT:
“Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Break forth in joyous song, and sing out your praise.”
It’s hard to conceive of something limitless. Can you even really imagine what it means when we sing that God’s saving, glorious power has reached all the ends of the earth? Sometimes we might feel small, unnoticed, unimportant when we think of our little, limited corner of the world. But God is there too. God’s mercy and love surround and save us all, near and far. If that isn’t cause for joyous song, what is?
– Jennifer Odegard
Sing a New Song to the Lord
Larry J. Long
G-9065 · SATB, organ
The Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ
Michel Guimont
G-8961 · SATB, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar
You Are My Friends
James Chepponis
G-9071 · SATB
I Have Chosen You
James Chepponis
G-8977 · SATB
As the Father Has Loved Me
Richard Robert Rossi
G-8371 · SATB, assembly, organ, violin
As the Father Has Loved Me
John Karl Hirten
G-7274 · SATB, assembly, piano
In Christ There Is No East or West
Alan Bullard
G-9787 · SATB, organ
More suggestions for the Sixth Sunday of Easter…
A New Commandment Gerald Phillips • SATB, cantor, keyboard • 009459
Holy Is God’s Name Liam Lawton • SATB, cantor, solo, assembly, keyboard, guitar • G-8564
Holy Spirit Alleluia: Gospel Acclamation and Verses for the Easter Season Arr. Rob Glover • SATB, cantor, assembly, organ • G-8699
I Saw Water Flowing / Alleluia: Rite of Sprinkling and Gospel Acclamation for Eastertide James Biery • Unison with descant, SATB, cantor, assembly, organ • G-8469
O Christ, You Are the Seed That Died Paul Inwood, text by Delores Dufner, OSB • SATB, descant, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 009043
Psalm 98 with The Lectionary Refrains Richard Proulx • SATB, Two-part mixed, two-part equal, cantor, assembly, organ, 2 trumpets in C, percussion • G-8058
This Is My Will (SUANTRAI) Arr. John L. Bell • SATB, solo, reduction • G-8023
Trilingual Ubi Caritas Cheryl Aranda • SATB, cantor, assembly, piano, guitar • 012675
Where Charity and Love Prevail (UBI CARITAS) John Angotti, Paul Benoit, text by Omer Westendorf • SATB, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 008057
