In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  (1 John 4:10-11)

     In one of Saul Bellow's novels, namely, Mr. Sammler's Planet, Arthur Sammler comments on the plight of his deceased friend. In reference to the man's behaviors, Arthur concludes that in the end "he did not meet the terms of his contract. The terms which, in his inmost heart, each man knows. As I know mine. As all know. For that is the truth of it - that we all know, God, that we know, we know, we know."

     You and I know. In our inmost hearts, we all know that the Easter-event has implications for everyday life. However much we may try to avoid it, in the deep recesses of human responsibility, we know that God's mighty act of Christ's resurrection is not and idle tale of bygone history. Rather, it's ramifications span the ages and touch us in the daily round. Intuitively, we know that God's saving deed imparts an imperative for our conduct here and now.

     In the New Testament, it's John who draws the connection between our Lord's resurrection and the particular responsibility we bear as Easter people.

     In his First Letter, John views the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus as a grand disclosure of God's saving love. "God's love was revealed among us in this way," he writes. "God sent his only Son into the world" and "in this is love." In short, through the manger of Bethlehem, the cross of Calvary, and the empty tomb of Easter, our God made himself known as a God of redemptive grace.

     Now, "since God loved us so much," John continues, "we also ought to love one another."

     That's what we all know! Because we're dearly loved, we should actively and responsibly love one another, today and tomorrow, in home and neighborhood, church and school, office and factory.

Almighty and most merciful God, by the power of the resurrection, inspire us to love one another in all that we think, say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Contributed by Dick
Sunday May 10, 2009
Liturgical Year B Week 24
Sunday Gospel Readings:
Fifth Sunday of Easter