Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: May 23, 2025

Friday of the 5th Week of Easter

Scripture Text:  John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 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 no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel reading is drawn from Jesus’ “Final Discourse” with the disciples before his arrest, crucifixion and death. Jesus’ focus continues to be on love, the source of all creation as well as the purpose of our lives. Jesus reminds us that it is not we who choose but we who were chosen. And as “chosen”, we are called to live love – love for our LORD and love for one another. If love is not our compass, we are not on “the Way.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I use love as my compass? Do I consider how my words and actions manifest the love I am called to live and to give?

Praying:

LORD,  Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son in love to save us and to redeem us through love. And He taught us of the need for love in all our moments, all our decisions, all our actions, all our words. His loving selfless sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary helps us to better understand His teaching and the depth of the love we are to bear for Him and one another. Send your Spirit to grow our minds, our hearts, our souls to bear such love and to live the love Christ calls us to live every moment of every day. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.