SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (A)
(Day of Prayer for Human Work)
20th/21st May 2017


Dear Parishioner,

We are on the sixth Sunday of Easter. The fifty days of Easter is an awaiting period for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Today's first readings tells us the amazing work of the Holy Spirit through the person of Philip, which moved the Samaritan people to believe in Christ. And as a follow up they received the Holy Spirit through the laying of hands by Peter and John. And the result was a great rejoicing in the town. Because faith in Christ was a solution to all their problems. We are believers in Christ and we have received the promised Holy Spirit. Are we able to rejoice in Christ and in his Spirit? Are we able to find solutions to our daily problems in Christ?

In the second reading St. Peter reminds us to live a life worthy of the HOPE that we have in Christ. Because Christ was put to death in body but was raised to life in spirit. And this faith in eternal life with the promised gift of the Holy Spirit is the source of our Christian HOPE. So living a good and exemplar life must be our answer to those who slander us for our life of faith. He adds, and if it is the will of God that you should suffer, he encourages us, to suffer by doing good rather than to suffer by doing bad. So this gives us a positive outlook to our sufferings in life, especially those for our faith in Christ.

In the Gospel of John we see Jesus' discourse to his disciples. The one and only way to love Jesus is given to his disciples. Jesus reminds us, if you love me, keep my commandments. If we live a life loving Christ and following his commandments, he will ask his father for the gift of Holy Spirit on those who love him. So Jesus assures us in the gospel that anyone who receives his commandments and keeps them will be one who loves Him and anyone who loves Jesus will be loved by the father and he will be loved by Jesus as well.

So let us ask the lord for his grace to be someone who loves HIM and to be loved by HIM and HIS father so that we may be prepared to receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.

Send O Lord, holy apostles into your Church.

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ


The Holy Father's Prayer intentions for 2017 in May.

Christians in Africa

That Christians in Africa, in imitation of the Merciful Jesus, may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice, and peace.


Notices:

Please remember to pray for:

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died: Mgr George Stokes

Years Mind:
Sunday: Mgr William O'Grady
Monday: Dory Pearson
Tuesday: Fr Henry Peace
Wednesday: Fr Charles Carless, Fr Austin Thorburn


Next Sunday - THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (A)

First Reading Acts 1: 1-11
He was lifted up while they looked on.

Second Reading Ephesians 1:17-23
He made him sit at his right hand in heaven.

Gospel Matthew 27: 16-20
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.