Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
Thursday May 7, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
- First Reading – Acts 15:7-21: Peter addresses the Council of Jerusalem, emphasizing that salvation is through the grace of Jesus Christ and not contingent upon adherence to the Mosaic Law. He highlights the universality of God’s love, affirming that both Jews and Gentiles are welcomed into the faith through faith in Christ.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 96: Sing to the LORD, spread His glory and deliverance daily, and declare His just reign over a stable world to all nations.
- Gospel – John 15:9-11: Jesus urges His disciples to abide in His love, emphasizing that keeping His commandments leads to complete joy. By remaining in His love and obeying His teachings, believers experience the fullness of joy that only comes from a deep relationship with Him.
Upcoming dates: May 7, 2026, April 29, 2027, May 18, 2028, May 23, 2030, May 15, 2031, April 29, 2032, May 19, 2033
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
John 15:9
Themes for the Readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
The readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter focus on God’s love, the joy of following Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the early Church. They remind us to remain faithful and to let God’s love guide our actions and decisions.
- God’s Love for All: In the first reading, Peter speaks about how God’s love is for everyone, not just one group. This reminds us that God calls all people to faith and salvation.
- Joy in Obedience: In the Gospel, Jesus connects obedience to His commandments with remaining in His love. This shows that following Jesus brings lasting joy and peace.
- Guidance of the Holy Spirit: The early Church relies on the Holy Spirit to help resolve disagreements. This teaches us to trust in God’s guidance when we face challenges.
- Living in God’s Love: Jesus invites His disciples to remain in His love as He remains in the Father’s love. This shows the importance of staying close to Him in prayer and action.
- Breaking Down Barriers: Peter’s message reminds us that faith should not have unnecessary obstacles. The early Church works to remove barriers so that all can come to know God.
- The Fruit of Joy: Jesus speaks about His joy being in His followers and their joy being full. This reminds us that a relationship with Jesus brings deep happiness that comes from knowing and trusting Him.
Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter encourages us to remain in God’s love and let His joy fill our hearts. The readings invite us to trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to share the love of Jesus with all people.
Reflection for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
The readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter focus on God’s love, the importance of staying close to Jesus, and the call to unity and inclusion in faith. Peter speaks about removing barriers so that all people can experience God’s love. Jesus invites His disciples to remain in His love through prayer, action, and obedience to His teachings.
God’s Love Is for Everyone
In the first reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter, Peter emphasizes that God’s love is not limited to one group. He explains that salvation is offered to all who believe, and no unnecessary obstacles should block people from coming to faith. This message highlights the inclusive nature of God’s love.
Peter’s words remind us to welcome others into the faith and avoid creating barriers that make it harder for people to approach God. This can mean being patient, kind, and understanding with others who are seeking Him. It also calls us to reflect on how we share God’s love in our words and actions.
This reflection challenges us to look at our own attitudes. Do we truly believe that God’s love is for everyone, or do we sometimes exclude others through our actions? Peter’s example invites us to show God’s love openly and generously.
Remaining in Jesus’ Love
In the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter, Jesus invites His disciples to remain in His love as He remains in the Father’s love. He teaches that staying close to Him means keeping His commandments and living as He taught. This connection strengthens our relationship with Him and brings us joy.
Remaining in Jesus’ love involves more than feelings—it requires action. We stay close to Him through prayer, reading His word, and showing love to others. When we live this way, we experience the peace and happiness that come from knowing Him.
Jesus’ words encourage us to reflect on how we remain in His love each day. Are we taking time to pray and follow His teachings? Staying close to Jesus helps us grow in faith and share His love with others.
Guided by Love and Unity
Both the first reading and the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter focus on how love guides our actions and strengthens unity. Peter works to remove obstacles to faith, promoting a welcoming and loving community. Jesus calls His followers to live in His love, creating a bond that connects them to Him and to one another.
Love is the foundation of faith and community. It helps us overcome differences, forgive one another, and work together to share God’s message. Both readings remind us that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to live in a way that reflects God’s care for everyone.
This reflection challenges us to let love guide our decisions and relationships. Do we act with kindness and patience, even in difficult situations? By living in love, we grow closer to God and create stronger connections with those around us.
The reflections for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter remind us to live in God’s love and to share it with others. They call us to stay connected to Jesus and to let His love guide our actions as we build a welcoming and united community of faith.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your love that includes everyone and calls us to remain close to You. Help us to live in Your love and to share it with others through our words and actions. Teach us to build unity and welcome all who seek You. May we always stay connected to You. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How can you share God’s love with others in a more inclusive way?
- What does it mean for you to remain in Jesus’ love each day?
- How can love guide your actions in challenging situations?
- In what ways can you help build unity in your faith community?
Homilies and Commentaries for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
The Grace That Grows When Shared
Jesus tells us to remain in his love by keeping his commandments. Bishop Barron explains that God’s love is freely given, but we must respond to it through action. When we live out that love by sharing it with others, we come to possess it more deeply.
This is the meaning of grace working through our cooperation. We don’t earn God’s love, but by obeying his commands, especially the command to love others, we remain in that love. This is how we grow in holiness. This message is drawn from the Gospel for Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter.
True Joy
For Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter, Sr. Judith Anne O’Sullivan reflects on the words of Jesus: “Remain in my love… so that my joy may be in you.” She shares how, as a child, she found this idea of joy simple, but it became more difficult to understand as life brought challenges. True joy, she says, is not a fleeting feeling but a deep peace and contentment found in God’s love.
Joy is rooted in relationship—with God and with others. Even in suffering, failure, or loss, resurrection is the foundation of Christian joy. Jesus lives, and death is not the end. Our hope and peace come from knowing we belong to God. Quoting Saint Augustine, she reminds us that we are made for God, and we will not find rest until we rest in Him. That rest in God is what brings real and lasting joy.
What’s Limiting Your Joy?
Jesus tells us to remain in His love by keeping His commandments, just as He remains in the Father’s love. He says this so that His joy may be in us and our joy may be complete. If our joy isn’t full, we need to ask what is blocking it. What are we allowing to limit the joy God wants for us?
This reflection for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter is by Matthew Kelly. He invites us to consider what habits, thoughts, or people might be holding back the joy Jesus came to give us. God’s joy isn’t shallow or temporary. It is deep and lasting. But to receive it, we must live the way Jesus teaches.
Love That Remains
In the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter, Jesus says, “Remain in my love.” This kind of love is deep and self-giving. One couple lived this truth when they learned their unborn daughter had a fatal condition. They refused to end the pregnancy, trusting in God and choosing to love their daughter, Angela, for as long as they could. She lived three days after birth, during which her parents showed her nothing but love and faith.
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers shares this story to show what it means to keep God’s commandments and remain in his love. Like a child in the womb depending on its mother, we depend on God. We are called to live out that love, even through suffering, and be witnesses to his truth. When we remain in Christ, we carry his love to the world and find our joy in him.
The Path of Joy
On the Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the connection between joy and commandments in the Gospel. He explains that although commandments often suggest duty and discipline, they are intrinsically linked to joy. True joy comes from aligning with God’s nature of love and self-giving.
By embracing and living out the commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us, we fulfill our deepest longing for joy. Bishop Barron highlights that living as a gift to others is the pathway to acquiring God and experiencing profound joy.
Questions and Answers for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
Why does Peter say that God’s love is for everyone in the first reading for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter?
Peter explains that God shows no favoritism and welcomes people from all backgrounds. This teaches that salvation is open to everyone who believes and follows Him.
How does the Holy Spirit guide the early Church in the first reading?
The Holy Spirit helps the apostles make decisions about faith and practice. This shows that God continues to guide His Church through prayer and discernment.
Why is Peter’s message about removing obstacles important?
Peter emphasizes that unnecessary rules should not prevent people from coming to faith. This reminds us to focus on what truly matters and make God’s love accessible to all.
What does the first reading teach about community?
The first reading shows how the early Church worked together to resolve disagreements. This reminds us of the importance of unity and seeking God’s guidance as a community.
What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love in the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter?
Remaining in Jesus’ love means staying close to Him through prayer, following His commandments, and living as He taught. It is about maintaining a strong and faithful relationship with Him.
What does Jesus mean by saying obedience brings joy?
Jesus teaches that following His commandments leads to a deep and lasting joy. Obedience helps us live in harmony with God’s will and experience true peace.
What kind of joy does Jesus promise in the Gospel for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter?
Jesus speaks of a joy that comes from being close to Him and following His teachings. This joy is not temporary but lasts because it is rooted in His love.
How can we apply the idea of living in God’s love to our daily lives?
Living in God’s love means showing kindness, forgiveness, and care for others. It also means staying connected to God through prayer and trust in His guidance.
Why is the connection between love and obedience important in the Gospel?
Jesus shows that true love for Him is expressed in following His commandments. Obedience helps us grow in our relationship with God and live according to His will.
What do these readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter teach about trusting the Holy Spirit?
The readings remind us to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. The Spirit helps us navigate challenges and remain faithful to God’s plan.
Living in Love and Joy
The readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter remind us of the importance of God’s love and the joy that comes from following Jesus. In the first reading, Peter explains that God’s love is for everyone and that unnecessary obstacles should not prevent people from coming to faith. The early Church works together to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to create unity among believers.
In the Gospel, Jesus invites His disciples to remain in His love by keeping His commandments. He promises that this will bring them lasting joy and a deeper connection to Him. Jesus shows that love and obedience are linked, and following His teachings leads to peace and happiness.
These readings encourage us to trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, live in God’s love, and share the joy of knowing Jesus. They remind us to be open to others and to focus on what truly matters in our relationship with God.
Your Turn
Reflect on the readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter. How do you remain in Jesus’ love through your daily actions? Consider how God’s love brings joy into your life and think about ways to share that joy with others.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments to encourage others in their faith journey. Let us inspire one another to live in love and trust in God’s guidance.
Leave a Reply