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The Love that Compels

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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, May 23, 2025

Scripture:

Acts 15:22-31
John 15:12-17

Reflection:

In our first reading from Acts, we have the outcome from the meeting held in Jerusalem around the question whether Gentiles who had converted to Christianity had to become circumcised according to the Mosaic law observed by Jews. The apostles and elders discerned that the Gentile Christians did not have to be circumcised. In other words, the Gentile Christians did not have to be like Jews in order to be Christian

This account of a dispute in the early Church reminds us that conflicts can occur. And what is necessary to resolve such conflicts or debates is what we hear Jesus say at the beginning of our Gospel reading: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” 

We are called to love as Jesus loves, and we have an indication of what that means: “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 don’t see doing what Jesus commands us to do as a condition for Jesus to love us. I believe Jesus loves us no matter what. I see it more as saying, “This is what you need if you truly love me and want to be in a relationship with me: do what I command you to do.” 

Jesus also says: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…” We are called to go and bear fruit, not spend time passing judgments on others. However, we may resolve the disputes and conflicts that come up, even within the church, we are called to resolve them in love.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Daily Scripture, May 4, 2020

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 John 10:11-18 Reflection: A Shepherd’s Care:  Life’s Journey in 2020 Today our Easter celebration continues, and the Gospel selection continues yesterday’s Gospel selection from John 10, sharing » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 3, 2020

Scripture: Acts 2:14a, 36-41 1 Peter 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10 Reflection: As we continue through the Easter season, our Gospel readings are no longer accounts of the Risen Jesus appearing to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 2, 2020

Scripture: Acts 9:31-42 John 6:60-69 Reflection: ‘This is hard, who can accept it?’ We listen to a refrain that illustrates one of the many moments that Jesus and his disciples » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 1, 2020

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20 John 6:52-59 Reflection: The first reading for today is the famous account of Paul’s conversion in the Acts of the Apostles.  Paul was introduced earlier in Luke’s » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 30, 2020

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 John 6:44-51 Reflection: Twice in John’s gospel, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” (Cf. John 6: 35, 38)  It was an early teaching about the Eucharist to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 29, 2020

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor of the Church Scripture: Acts 8:1b-8 John 6:35-40 Reflection: He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 28, 2020

Scripture: Acts 7:51-8:1a John 6:30-35 Reflection: Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.’ These » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 27, 2020

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15 John 6:22-29 Reflection: Today’s reading is so true – Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 26, 2020

Scripture: Acts 2:14, 22-33 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35 Reflection: The Gospel story of the disciples on their way to Emmaus is even more real this year, the year of » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 25, 2020

Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5b-14 Mark 16:15-20 Reflection: Many years ago, when I was a seminarian, I was introduced to a book entitled, Gospel Parallels. » Continue Reading.

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