Respond in Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how our experience of Love is the motivation for our work in the vineyard of the Lord.

Consistent Life Ethic

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the Letter of the Apostles to the Delegates at Antioch.

* [15:13–35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1–10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lv 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem “Council” that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time).

* [15:34] Some manuscripts add, in various wordings, “But Silas decided to remain there.” (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 57 contains a prayer for rescue from enemies.

* [Psalm 57] Each of the two equal strophes contains a prayer for rescue from enemies, accompanied by joyful trust in God (Ps 57:2–5, 7–11). The refrain prays that God be manifested as saving (Ps 57:6, 12). Ps 108 is nearly identical to part of this Psalm (cf. Ps 57:8–11, Ps 108:2–6). (Psalms, PSALM 57 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents the depth of love for friends.

* [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here.

* [15:15] Slaves,friends: in the Old Testament, Moses (Dt 34:5), Joshua (Jos 24:29), and David (Ps 89:21) were called “servants” or “slaves of Yahweh”; only Abraham (Is 41:8; 2 Chr 20:7; cf. Jas 2:23) was called a “friend of God.” (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Hopp comments that focusing on applying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is indeed a determining factor of how well we love others. Through our interactions we are to demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That is what loving others really looks like in real life. Thoughtful application of these elements is certainly the true test of how well we are loving others. The “fruit of the spirit” test must remain at the forefront of our thoughts, words, and actions every waking moment of our lives if we truly are seeking to love as Jesus has loved us.

Dear Heavenly Father, we genuinely want to live to serve you, to follow all your commands. On this day, help us to specifically focus upon your simple directive to love one another. Help us to solidify our focus upon the fruits of the Spirit, knowing that each of those characteristics is key to loving others as you have loved us. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Love encompasses the other commandments,” by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD).

"This is my commandment." Have you then only one precept? This is sufficient, even if it is unique and so great. Nevertheless he also said, "Do not kill" (Matthew 19:18) because the one who loves does not kill. He said, "Do not steal," because the one who loves does even more-he gives. He said, "Do not lie," for the one who loves speaks the truth, against falsehood. "I give you a new commandment" (John 13:14). If you have not understood what "This is my commandment" means, let the apostle be summoned as interpreter and say, "The goal of his commandment is love" (1 Timothy 1:5). What is its binding force? It is that of which [the Lord] spoke, "Whatever you want others to do to you, you should do also" (Matthew 7:12)."Love one another" in accordance with this measure, "as I have loved you." That is not possible, for you are our Lord who loves your servants. But we who are equals, how can we love one another as you have loved us? Nevertheless, he has said it... His love is that he has called us his friends. If we were to give our life for you, would our love be equal to yours?... How then can what he said be explained, "As I have loved you"? "Let us die for each other," he said. As for us, we do not even want to live for one another! "If I, who am your Lord and God, die for you, how much more should you die for one another." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 19.13) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:12-17 comments that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not the first time he laid down his life. Think of the countless times that he gave of himself to the crowds that followed him, even when he was tired. Or the patience he showed when his disciples didn’t understand what he was trying to teach them. We can follow in his footsteps in these ways as well.

It’s just a matter of stepping out and doing what God has put before you. And every time you say yes, you’ll find Jesus there, ready to pour out the grace you need to lay down your life. Each act of obedience to God’s call to love is an opportunity to grow closer to Jesus and to reflect his self-giving love.

“Jesus, give me the grace to say yes to your call to love, just where I am today.” (Meditation on John 15:12-17, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that, in Acts, we have a report of the Council of Jerusalem for Gentile Christians that following Jewish Law or circumcision was not required. The report of this agreement letter in 1 Corinthians raises the question of when this decision was made. In John 15:13, Jesus describes great love as laying down one’s life for one’s friend. We have a freedom to be able to choose to be one with Christ. Friar Jude comments that the concept that some people aren’t called, known as predestination, does not fit the image of God presented by Jesus. God wants to live with all of us for all eternity in heaven.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Mirabai Starr who describes how the language of romance and erotic love is the universal experience of mystics across religious traditions.

In the Song of Songs, the lover sings of her search for her beloved:

At night on my bed I longed only for my love.
I sought him, but did not find him.
I must rise and go about the city,
the narrow streets and squares until I find my only love.
I sought him everywhere but I could not find him. (Song of Songs 3:1–2)(Rohr, 2026)

Starr describes longing as an essential aspect of nuptial mysticism:

Something in our souls recognizes this dynamic of exile and return. We remember that our source is Love. We suffer from the illusion of having been pulled up from our soul roots. We long to go home. We engage every practice we can get our hands on to restore our birthright of belonging. And when we attain those fleeting moments of union, we realize we were never two to begin with. We were always one and always will be one.

The language of love is like a spaceship that blasts us through the layers of illusion and delivers us to the truth of our essential connectedness with the Divine and our interconnectedness with all of creation. There’s nothing like a passage of mystical poetry, incandescent with the fire of longing and besotted by the wine of union, to evoke our own burning yearning and reveal our capacity for melding. [2] (Rohr, 2026)

We recognize that understanding of Love in Jesus is mystical and we implore the Spirit to reveal this love in our interactions with the people and places in our environment.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/15? 

Hopp, L. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-8-2026 

John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15? 

Meditation on John 15:12-17. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/08/1560393/ 

Psalms, PSALM 57 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/57 

Rohr, R. (2026, May 6). The Blueprint of Our Soul. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-book-of-devotion/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Have Called You Friends. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 8, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

 

Love and Law

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today enlighten our understanding of the relationship between Law and Love in our mission as disciples of Christ.

Life and the Law

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the tension between Gentile Christians and Mosaic Law.

* [15:1–35] The Jerusalem “Council” marks the official rejection of the rigid view that Gentile converts were obliged to observe the Mosaic law completely. From here to the end of Acts, Paul and the Gentile mission become the focus of Luke’s writing.

* [15:7–11] Paul’s refusal to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentile Christians is supported by Peter on the ground that within his own experience God bestowed the holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household without preconditions concerning the adoption of the Mosaic law (see Acts 10:44–47).

* [15:11] In support of Paul, Peter formulates the fundamental meaning of the gospel: that all are invited to be saved through faith in the power of Christ.

* [15:13–35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1–10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lv 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem “Council” that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time).

* [15:14] Symeon: elsewhere in Acts he is called either Peter or Simon. The presence of the name Symeon here suggests that, in the source Luke is using for this part of the Jerusalem “Council” incident, the name may have originally referred to someone other than Peter (see Acts 13:1 where the Antiochene Symeon Niger is mentioned). As the text now stands, however, it is undoubtedly a reference to Simon Peter (Acts 15:7). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 96 praises the glories of Israel’s God.

* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John, presents the discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples.

* [15:1–16:4] Discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples. His words become a monologue and go beyond the immediate crisis of the departure of Jesus.

Kimberly Grassmeyer comments on the Gospel that here, John recounts Jesus telling his disciples, after having risen from death to fulfill the promise of the resurrection, to “Remain in my Love”.

Can you take a moment to visualize the Christ of your heart?  How powerful and joyful it is to put ourselves among the disciples, to see and feel him telling us that his joy is complete because of us!  Telling us that he loves us as God loves him.  And then asking - in fact, commanding - us to remain in his love.  I want to!  I’m smiling in peace, love and joy, and my heart is full at the vision of being so beloved.  I pray the same for you, also. Amen. (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Joy in rejoicing over us,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"And what else is Christ's joy in us except that he is pleased to rejoice over us? And what is this joy of ours that he says is to be made full, but our having fellowship with him?... His joy, therefore, in us is the grace he has bestowed on us, and that is also our joy. But he rejoiced over this joy even from eternity when he chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Nor can we rightly say that his joy was not full. For God's joy was never at any time imperfect. But that joy of his was not in us. For we, in whom that joy could exist, had as yet no existence. And even when our existence commenced, it began not to be in him. But in him it always was, who in the infallible truth of his own foreknowledge rejoiced that we should yet be his own. Accordingly, he had a joy over us that was already full when he rejoiced in foreknowing and foreordaining us. And there could hardly be any fear intermingling in that joy of his that might imply a possible failure in what he foreknew would be done by himself." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 15:7-21 comments that, with the Spirit’s help, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James came to realize that this gift of the Spirit was the fulfillment of God’s purposes in the Law.  The Lord was reaching out to anyone who turned to him, Jew and Gentile alike!

God is still at work today “acquiring . . . a people for his name” (Acts 15:14). He is still building a Church composed of people from every nation and background and culture. And he wants you to join him in his mission. So how can you extend his gracious invitation to the people around you, especially to those who are different from you? Is it through hospitality? Intercession? Opening the path to reconciliation? The overwhelming grace of the Lord Jesus continues to flow outward, so give away the gift that you have been given! (Meditation on Acts 15:7-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the continuation of the Council of Jerusalem to decide the future of Gentile Christians. This echoes the belief that God would even call the Gentiles when he restored Israel. The requirements to not participate in unlawful marriage or eat the blood of animals cite additional rules. In Galatians, Paul cites requirements are different from martial fidelity and dietary prohibitions. The requirements in 1 Corinthians were written earlier than Luke’s requirements in Acts. Friar Jude comments that Paul represents what actually happened and Luke describes what happened in the meantime. We attend to the commandments to participate in the Love of Christ and share His Joy, based on the sense of living and thriving in Love.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces James Finley who celebrates Bernard of Clairvaux’s emphasis on love.

Bernard of Clairvaux recognized that there’s fraternal love, our love for our siblings. There’s the love of parents for their children, and the love of children for their parents. God also gives us love for our friends. But nuptial love is unique in that two people freely choose to give themselves to each other completely: to support each other, to be there for each other, and to be with each other. So, their sexual union is a physical, somatic celebration of the love in which they give and receive.

Arise my love, my fair one,
  and come away.
O my dove, in the clefts of rocks,
  in the covert of the cliff,
let me see your face;
  let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet
  and your face is lovely….

My beloved is mine, and I am his. (Song of Songs 2:13–14, 16)

You can see why Bernard saw nuptial love, portrayed in the Song of Songs, as the supreme love. It’s like when spouses love and give themselves to each other—the infinite love of God infinitely gives God’s self to us. Nuptial mysticism is like being married to God. God wants us to be married to God in this kiss, this ultimate, sovereign, and supreme love. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit as we contemplate action that respects the Law and delivers Love.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/15? 

Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-7-2026 

John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9 

Meditation on Acts 15:7-21. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/07/1559930/ 

Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). I Am My Beloved’s. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/i-am-my-beloveds/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Abide in My Love. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Choice and Denial

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to make an informed choice about our action as followers of Christ that confirms our willingness to seek full life for all.

Ponder Our Choice

The Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy proclaims The Choice Before Israel.

j. [30:15] Dt 11:26–28; Jer 21:8.

k. [30:16] Dt 4:1; 8:1; 11:22.

l. [30:17–18] Dt 5:7; 6:4; 8:19–20.

m. [30:19] Dt 4:26; 11:26–28; 28:2, 15; 31:28.

n. [30:20] Dt 1:8; 4:1, 40. (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 30 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 1 is a preface to the whole Book of Psalms .

* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death. (Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus presents The Conditions of Discipleship.

* [9:23] Daily: this is a Lucan addition to a saying of Jesus, removing the saying from a context that envisioned the imminent suffering and death of the disciple of Jesus (as does the saying in Mk 8:34–35) to one that focuses on the demands of daily Christian existence. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Kelly comments that today’s readings offer criteria about what a faithful life looks like. One is from the final book of Deuteronomy, while the other is from the Gospel of Luke.  Both offer thoughts on the temptation of short-term gains and encourage us to live for long-term goals.

As we know, he was persecuted because he threatened the religious leaders of his day by stating that all were loved by God—without conditions.  The people he revealed this to no longer allowed the religious leaders to determine their status before God.  Thus, Jesus threatened the power and authority of the religious leaders of his day and there were severe consequences.

In like manner, (2) those who follow Jesus must give themselves for the good of others (“Love one another as I have loved you.”)

This may be our children, our neighbor, our stranger, our “other” and when we love them, we must bear the consequences (the cross) of that action. If my first concern is me, I will truly die as I am finite and limited.  If my first concern is loving others, and I commit my life to that—I cannot die because this love, like God, is eternal. (Kelly, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “God calls us to conversion,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD.

"God calls us to correct ourselves and invites us to do penance. He calls us through the wonderful gifts of his creation, and he calls us by granting time for life. He calls us through the reader and through the preacher. He calls us with the innermost force of our thoughts. He calls us with the scourge of punishment, and he calls us with the mercy of his consolation." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 102, 16) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 9:22-25 implores us to take up the cross of loving someone even if they are hard to love. We seek help to take the first step toward that other person.

“Jesus, as you hung on the cross, you asked your Father why he had abandoned you. But your death opened the gates of heaven for me! Every barrier between me and your Father has been removed. When you offer me the cross of physical or emotional suffering, help me to embrace it. Help me to trust that even when I’m suffering or feel abandoned, you are always close to me, pouring your love into my heart. As I surrender to your will, let me know the freedom of relying on you. Let me know the freedom and joy that flow from knowing you are walking beside me.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for all you have done on the cross! Help me to take up my own cross and know the freedom you have won for me.” (Meditation on Luke 9:22-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the Deuteronomy reading, Moses puts two paths before the people, life observing the commandments, or death. In Lent, God presents a choice to us and we are not able to remain sitting on the fence. In Luke, Jesus, identifying as the Son of Man, declares He would suffer, die, and rise again. The disciples too have to take up their cross and give everything they have to be like Christ in the world. Friar Jude underlines our need to recognize conversion and rectification to be more Christ-like.

Fr Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Trappist monk Thomas Merton (1915–1968) did much to recover the contemplative tradition within the Christian religion. 

Our time is in desperate need of this kind of simplicity. It needs to recapture something of the experience reflected in these lines. The word to emphasize is experience. The few short phrases collected in this volume have little or no value merely as information. It would be futile to skip through these [aphorisms] and lightly take note of the fact that the Fathers said this and this. What good will it do us to know merely that such things were once said? The important thing is that they were lived. That they flow from an experience of the deeper levels of life. [1] (Rohr, 2025)

Benedicta Ward, a scholar of the desert mystics, describes how the simple language of the desert abbas and ammas can mask the deep wisdom they contain. 

The essence of the spirituality of the desert is that it was not taught but caught; it was a whole way of life. It was not an esoteric doctrine or a predetermined plan of ascetic practice that would be learned and applied. The Father, or ‘abba,’ was not the equivalent of the Zen Buddhist ‘Master.’ 

Abba Agathon said, “Prayer is hard work and a great struggle to one’s last breath” and there is the story told about Abba Lot:

Abba Joseph came to Abba Lot and said to him: “Father, according to my strength I keep a moderate rule of prayer and fasting, quiet and meditation, and as far as I can I control my imagination; what more must I do?” And the old man rose and held his hands toward the sky so that his fingers became like flames of fire and he said, “If you will, you shall become all flame.” [2] (Rohr, 2025)

We invoke the guidance of the Spirit to deny the temptation of choices that are self-serving and seek contemplation that leads to action in prayer and service for people in need.

References

Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 30 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/30?15 

Kelly, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-19-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?22 

Meditation on Luke 9:22-25. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/19/1505241/ 

Psalms, PSALM 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/1 

Rohr, R. (2025, March 13). Experience Over Knowledge. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/experience-over-knowledge/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take up Your Cross Daily and Follow Christ. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 19, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/