5th Sunday of Easter Year C

Mass Readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter Year C

• First Reading – Acts 14:21-27: Paul and Barnabas revisited cities, encouraging disciples and explaining hardships in God's kingdom. They appointed church leaders, entrusted them to the Lord, and shared their mission success in Antioch, emphasizing God's outreach to non-Jews.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 145: The Lord's compassion and mercy extend to all, slow to anger and full of love. His works praise Him, and His followers speak of His eternal kingdom and majestic power.
• Second Reading – Revelation 21:1-5A: John describes a new heaven and earth, with the old gone. He sees a splendid New Jerusalem and hears God proclaim His eternal dwelling with people, erasing all pain and making everything new.
• Gospel - John 13:31-33A, 34-35: Jesus spoke of his imminent glorification, intertwining his honor with God's. He shared a new commandment with his disciples: to love one another as he loved them. This mutual love among his followers would be the defining mark of their discipleship.

Themes for the 5th Sunday of Easter Year C

The readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter year C tell us that suffering can be a part of discipleship, but we can look to the future with hope. In the first reading Paul and Barnabas speak of the hardships which much be endured for the Kingdom of God. In the second reading John describes his vision of heaven. And in the gospel, before he is betrayed by Judas, Jesus tells his disciples that they must love as he loves.

• Ways to love
• Community
• Heaven
• Difficulties of discipleship

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 5th Sunday of Easter Year C.

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Love One Another – A Lesson Plan on Love

This Love One Another lesson plan will help youth consider what it means to love. Love is not a feeling. It is something we must decide to do.

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A Prayer to Love One Another

Jesus tells us to love one another as he loves us. That is not easy! This Prayer to Love One Another asks for the grace to do just that.

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Emotion in Motion Game

In this game, youth use their facial expressions to pass their emotions around a circle. There is no winner or loser. This is just a game about how our faces can show our emotions.

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Understanding the Book of Revelation

Understanding the Book of Revelation can be difficult. Every time we participate in the Eucharistic celebration we are actually taking part in a liturgy where heaven intersects with earth.

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Guide Me to Heaven Game

Guide Me to Heaven is a game which helps youth understand the importance of clear instructions and helping each other stay on the right path. It goes well with a meeting focused on heaven.

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God Sustains Us

We know God sustains us and cares for us. This is a prayer based on Psalm 145, which is the responsorial psalm for this Sunday. It expresses praise to God for the way he watches over us.

Rescued from the Depths

From Bishop Robert Barron: "Jesus was sent all the way down into sin and death that he might rescue us who had fallen into those depths."

A New Commandment

Jesus gives the world the freedom to look at how we live and decide if we are really demonstrating the love of God. Do we demonstrate sacrificial love? What if I don't feel like loving someone?

New Heavens, New Earth

Bishop Robert Barron explains that Our passage for this Sunday is taken from the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation, the penultimate chapter of the book. Hence, it is, if you will, the ringing finale of the entire Bible, the terminus ad quem of all of Scripture.

New For All Ages

Scott Hahn tells us that until the end of time, the Church will declare to the world God’s mighty deeds, blessing His holy name and giving Him thanks, singing of the glories of His kingdom. Continue reading.

How Do I Know You're a Christian?

If the local newspaper had been following you around during this past week looking for evidence that you were a disciple of Christ, what evidence would be most convincing? Jeff Cavins leads a reflection.

The One who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."