Friday, May 8, 2015

On the Friday after the 4th Sunday after Easter


Dear Fathers, Friends in Christ,

Acts 15:22-31
 Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12
 John 15:12-17




When one thinks of St. John the Apostle, we might recall the gentle, loving relationship between Christ and St. John, who was a young man at the time. In St. John's gospel for today, however, we hear some pretty strong language. He reported that Christ said, "I have appointed you to go and bear fruit, and I command you to love one another."
(see John 15:16-17)

 There are no disclaimers. At times this love requires that we separate the person from their actions. We do not like or approve of what a person is doing, but we are to love them. This is even true with our family members at times.

 Christ prefaces these directives by reassuring us that He loves us. He chose us and He calls us friends. These concepts of bearing fruit and always loving others come back to our identity as Christians. God is Love and thus He loves those He has created. We, as Christians, are also called to love. It is who we are, it is our identity. As Saint Therese, our website's patron reminds us, "All is love."


 A blessed weekend!


 Father Ed Bakker
 Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
 Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
 Bendigo, Australia

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