​SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

My dear friends in Christ,

Along my journey, God has put a number of wonderful people in my path.  While our paths have taken us in different directions, quite often I will think of them and a smile will come to my face.  Now here is my weakness.  I will think of them, and have every intention to reach out to them.  Then I get sidetracked by something, and the moment passes, and then days, weeks, months, and so on passes.  And the opportunity and nice thought passes.
In our Gospel this weekend from John 15:9-17, Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.  Jesus gives us the greatest example of how to love and to serve one another.  As disciples of Christ, we are called to be the light of Christ to one another, and to love one another.  That love can be, as I learned this past week, something as simple as thinking of someone else, and putting that thinking into action.  When we do this, each in our own little way, we bear the fruit that Jesus speaks of as the branches attached to the true vine, Jesus Christ. 
Here is the opportunity and challenge for us today.  Don’t let this opportunity pass by and let another day get away from you.  Reach out to someone that you have not spoken with for some time, for whatever reason.  It will do you both a world of good.  Allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to bring comfort, strength, peace, and hope to that other person.  Be the light of Christ to that other person, who just may need it at this very moment in time.  The result will be that it will do you both a world of good – and feel cared for, remembered, and loved.
This is putting our faith into action.  I too am a work in progress.  Amen.
May God bless each of you and those that you love.

Fr. Greg