May-9 Liturgical Study Sixth Sunday of Easter

 May-9 Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

In this passage from Acts, the Holy Spirit brings Peter to the household of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who was a righteous Gentile, observant of Jewish practices. 

In earlier passages (Acts 10:11-12) we read of a persistent vision where Peter is asked to eat of clean/unclean meat. An act forbidden of all devout Jews. The ‘eating of unclean meat’ is a metaphor for ‘preaching to Gentiles’.

Likewise in Acts 10:30-31, Cornelius has a vision telling him that Peter was in a nearby house and asking him to go seek out Peter. Being prayerful was a gateway to receiving the Holy Spirit that led to his conversion.

In this ‘mini-Pentecost’, the Holy Spirit comes down upon the audience when Peter welcomes Gentiles and Jews to the faith in the name of Jesus.


Psalm 98

Whenever we read the word salvation we must remember that in Biblical times "salvation" was a secular word—that meaning "to deliver from some danger". It was not only a religious word; furthermore it needed to have a context. What kind of danger? Salvation or deliverance from what. Psalm 98 talks about God's dominion over all nations.


Reading II 1 John 4:7-10

To love someone is to want God’s best for them. To truly love someone is to affirm their humanity, having been created in the image of God. It is to accept them as an equal and to indiscriminately serve them with grace and genuine concern, even if we don't subscribe to their lifestyle or beliefs.


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