Catholic Identity
Creator God, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, as we walk together on your path of love, hope and faith.
Thank you for the gifts of our school,
our environment, our families and friends.
May our school be a place of learning, care, welcome and celebration.
Mary our Mother, pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross, pray for us.
Amen
From Sunday’s Gospel reading, in John 15:9-17, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the importance of love and unity. He begins by emphasising the profound love between himself and his followers, urging them to abide in his love just as he abides in the love of God the Father. Jesus highlights the significance of obedience to his commandments, particularly the commandment to love one another as he has loved them. Jesus considers them not just servants but friends, revealing to them all that he has heard from the Father. Jesus emphasises that they did not choose him, but he chose them for a purpose: to go forth and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Jesus encourages the disciples to love one another fervently, reminding them that this love is the mark of true discipleship and is the essence of fulfilling his commandments.
The message Jesus shares with his disciples in this week's gospel radiates with the profound joy he finds in his relationship with the Father. Just as the Father loves him, Jesus extends that same love to his disciples, inviting them to partake in the Father's love. In our daily lives, we, too, are invited to dwell in the love of Jesus and experience the depth of the Father's love; the simple requirement is to love one another despite its challenges - this means extending love even to those who bring hardship and discomfort into our lives.
Lets us Pray:
Heavenly Father,
I know that in and of myself I cannot love others in the same way that Christ loved me,
Unless I surrender my life completely into Your hands.
I pray that Your Spirit of love may flow through me to others
So that I can love them as You have loved me.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN.