Today's gospel, 14 May

 



"I have appointed you to go and bear fruit in my name."



The gospel reading    John 15:9 - 17

[Jesus said] "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."



Sacred Space

You can find a gentle prayer guide and reflection on the gospel here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-05-14/


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-15-9-17-2025/



Something to think and pray about this week, from Sacred Space:


Our Spiritual Home

Somebody was asked once, ‘Why do you bother staying in the Church?’ The answer is, ‘I’ve no other spiritual home.’ We’ll hear the word and return, often during Lent. We stray away from God in small journeys or big ones. We might not feel like returning, but when we do, we know we’re home.

Church is home because it is where Jesus lives – not in the building only but in the people. Jesus lives with each of us, as ‘he makes his home with us’. He also lives among us in community, ‘wherever two or three are gathered in my name’.

We need to make the building and the spirit of our gatherings a homecoming. In our Church home we can hear each week of different needs and celebrations of the parish. We remember especially the sick, the dying and the ones gone before us.

Everyone helps build a home. The priest cannot do it alone. Can we ensure that every parish has a welcoming group, a group that keeps in touch with locals and plans future events?

Donal Neary SJ, The Sacred Heart Messenger, February 2023

(https://sacredspace.com/)


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