Mass Readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
- First Reading - Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48: Peter realized God's impartiality and while he spoke, the Holy Spirit filled everyone present, Jew and Gentile alike. Peter baptized the Gentiles, affirming their reception of the Spirit.
- Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 98: Sing to the LORD for His marvelous deeds and victory. He has revealed His salvation and righteousness to all people, remembering His love and faithfulness to Israel.
- Second Reading - 1 John 4:7-1: Love originates from God, and those who love know Him, because God is love itself. God demonstrated His love by sending His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
- Gospel - John 15:9-17: Jesus instructs His disciples about remaining in His love by obeying His commandments, similar to His adherence to the Father's. He desires their complete joy through this mutual love. Emphasizing the ultimate expression of love—sacrificing one’s life for friends—he elevates them from servants to friends, sharing divine truths. Jesus underscores His choice of them to bear lasting fruit and assures that their requests in His name will be granted by the Father. His central command: love one another.
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
John 15:9
Themes for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
For the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, the readings offer rich insights into love, inclusion, and divine friendship. Each theme is closely connected with how believers are called to live and interact in light of God's love.
- God's impartial love: God shows no partiality among people; His love is for all, as shown when the Holy Spirit fills everyone listening to Peter, regardless of being Jew or Gentile. This teaches us that God’s love transcends human boundaries, inviting all into His divine family.
- Power of divine love: The second reading tells us that God is the essence of love itself, and loving others is how we truly know God. This emphasizes that love is not just a human emotion but a reflection of the divine presence within us.
- Commandment of love: Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. This directive is rooted in His own obedience and love for the Father, highlighting love as the fundamental principle of Christian life.
- Sacrifice as true love: Jesus speaks about the greatest love being shown when one lays down their life for their friends. This underlines the sacrificial nature of true love, exemplified by Jesus’ own life and death.
- Friendship with God: Elevating His followers from servants to friends, Jesus shares divine truths with them. This shift illustrates the deep, personal relationship God seeks with us, based on transparency and mutual love.
- Promise of answered prayers: Jesus assures that requests made in His name will be granted. This not only shows the power of prayer but also the confidence we can have in God’s responsiveness to our needs.
The readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B illustrate various dimensions of love as the core of Christian identity. These themes each point back to the fundamental truth that God is love, and our lives should reflect this reality.
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B.
Resources for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
Sunday May 5, 2024
What Is Joy? – Reflection and Discussion Questions
The lesson plan discusses joy in the context of the Gospel reading John 15:9-17 for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, where Jesus talks about His love for us and commands us to love one another. It explains that true joy comes from living out Jesus' command to love. The reflection emphasizes that this joy is deeper than temporary happiness because it connects us with God's love. Discussion questions in the article encourage reflection on how we experience and share joy and love in our daily lives.
Love One Another Lesson Plan
The lesson plan explores the theme of love, which is also central to the Gospel of John 15:9-17, for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B. It focuses on understanding and practicing Jesus' command to "love one another" as He loved us. The plan includes activities and discussions aimed at helping participants recognize ways to show love in everyday interactions. It emphasizes that loving as Jesus did involves making sacrifices for others and keeping God's commands, which leads to true joy and friendship with Him.
A Prayer to Love One Another
This prayer goes well with John 15:9-17, the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B. The prayer is a request for help to love others as Jesus loves, emphasizing the need for guidance to see Jesus in everyone and to act with love and kindness. It seeks strength to love without limits and to forgive others freely. The prayer aims to foster a spirit of love among believers, following Jesus' command to love one another deeply, creating a loving community.
People Sort Activity
This activity teaches about impartiality, as shown in Acts 10 from the First Reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B. In this activity, participants sort pictures of different people into groups, then discuss why they sorted them this way, revealing their assumptions. The activity aims to show that, like Peter realized in Acts 10, God does not show favoritism but loves everyone equally. This helps participants understand and embrace diversity, reflecting on how to treat all people with equal respect and kindness.
The Acts of the Apostles
The article provides an overview of the Book of Acts, focusing on its depiction of the early Christian community's expansion and challenges. It highlights key events where the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding the apostles, like Peter, who realizes God's love extends to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. This is evident in Acts 10, used in the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, where Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, baptizes Gentiles, demonstrating that God does not favor one group over another but welcomes everyone who seeks Him.
1 John: Exploring the Depths of Love and Truth
The article provides background for the First Letter of John, focusing on its themes of love and truth. The letter teaches how love comes from God and that knowing God is to know love because God is love. It emphasizes that God showed His ultimate love by sending His Son to save us from our sins. This message aligns with the second reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, 1 John 4:7-10, underscoring that true love involves deep connection and sacrifice, which are central to Christian faith and life.
The Gospel of John: Resources and Reflections
The article provides insights into the Gospel of John, focusing on its deep themes of love and discipleship, as reflected in the reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, John 15:9-17. Jesus teaches His disciples to remain in His love by obeying His commandments, just as He follows His Father's commands. Jesus emphasizes the importance of sacrificial love, friendship, and the sharing of divine truths. He assures His disciples that their efforts in His name will be fruitful and that their prayers will be answered, reinforcing the command to love one another deeply.
Homilies and Reflections for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
Sunday May 5, 2024
God’s Marvelous Choice
Bishop Robert Barron's homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B emphasizes God's choice of us in Christ over our own pursuit of spirituality. He distinguishes between generic spirituality and authentic Christian faith, which acknowledges God's initiative in choosing us as His friends. Barron urges readers to prioritize God's choosing over our own efforts, leading to surrender and participation in God's drama. He highlights the mission-oriented nature of Christian spirituality, rooted in love, and emphasizes that being chosen by God brings joy and fulfillment. Ultimately, he emphasizes that it's not we who choose Christ, but Christ who chooses us
Begotten By Love
Scott Hahn reflects on the theme of divine love in the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B, and its historical revelation through Jesus Christ. He connects this revelation to the story of Abraham and Isaac, emphasizing obedience and sacrificial love as foundations of faith. The readings show that God's promise to Abraham extends to all nations, fulfilled as the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Gentiles during Peter's preaching. This inclusivity is celebrated in baptism, making all believers heirs to God's promises. Hahn encourages us to love others as we are loved, sharing the life and friendship of Christ through personal sacrifice and service.
Love Both Conditional and Unconditional
Bishop Robert Barron's homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B emphasizes that God's love for us is unconditional, coming before any of our efforts. He stresses that while God's love is freely given, to truly experience it, we must share it with others. Barron explains that by actively giving away God's love, we receive even more of it, leading to a joyful and fulfilling life. He underscores the importance of both accepting God's unconditional love and following His commandments to remain in His love. Ultimately, Barron highlights that God's desire is for us to experience complete joy by accepting His grace and sharing His love with others.
More Thoughts for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
Embracing God's Universal Love
In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see a remarkable event where Peter, a Jew, realizes that God does not favor one group of people over another. As Peter spoke to a gathering that included both Jews and Gentiles, the Holy Spirit came upon everyone present. This was a clear sign that God’s love and salvation were available to all, not just a select few.
Moved by this understanding, Peter baptized the Gentiles, officially welcoming them into the Christian community. This passage teaches us that God’s love knows no boundaries and that we, too, are called to transcend our prejudices and share God’s love with all.
God is Love
The second reading, from the first letter of John, tells us straightforwardly: "God is love." This profound truth is at the heart of Christian life. It means that loving others is not just a command from God, but a reflection of God Himself. When we love one another, we are participating in God's own life.
John goes on to explain that God showed this love most clearly by sending His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins. This act of sending His only Son as a sacrifice is the ultimate example of love. Every act of love we show to others is a reflection of God’s love for us and an encounter with Him.
Living in Love
In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains what it means to remain in His love: we must keep His commandments, just as He has kept His Father’s commandments. Jesus associates love with joy, saying that His desire is for His disciples’ joy to be complete. By commanding us to love one another, He is inviting us to live a life of true joy.
Jesus also redefines the relationship between Him and His disciples. They are no longer just servants; they are His friends, for He has shared everything with them. By choosing us, just as He chose His first disciples, Jesus has given us a mission to bear fruit in the world—fruit that will last. This means living out love in our actions every day.
Jesus assures us that whatever we ask the Father in His name will be granted, emphasizing the power of living in accordance with His command to love. We experience God's presence through the love we give and receive in our everyday interactions. Through His words and example, Jesus has equipped us to bring this divine love into the world. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to fulfill this noble task.
As followers of Christ, we are called to live out the love of God in a real and tangible way, showing love to everyone we meet without partiality. This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ. When we love genuinely, we make the truth that "God is love" visible and active in the world. Let us strive to embody this love in all that we do, bringing the light of Christ to every corner of our lives and beyond.
Reflection Questions for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
- How can we show God’s love to those who are different from us?
- What are some ways we might be showing partiality in our own lives? How can we overcome this?
- How does understanding that "God is love" change the way we interact with others?
- Can you think of a time when you experienced God’s love through someone else? What was that like?
- What are some practical steps we can take to follow Jesus’ command to love one another?
- How can we be more open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives?
- In what ways can we bring the joy of Jesus’ love to those around us?
- How does being a friend of Jesus, rather than just a servant, impact our relationship with Him and with others?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
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Music Suggestions for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
Sunday May 5, 2024
These selections for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B focus on God's love and how we are part of a community. The music includes both old hymns and contemporary songs, each sharing the message of God's great and constant love. This music helps us understand and show how love is central to our relationship with God and each other.
- Christians Let Us Love One Another
- God Has Chosen Me
- God Is Love
- God Is Love (Traditional)
- How He Loves
- I Give You a New Commandment
- Love Divine All Loves Excelling
- No Greater Love
- No Longer Slaves
- One Bread One Body
- Prayer of St. Francis
- Remembrance
- The Lord Has Revealed
- This Is My Commandment
- What Wondrous Love
- Your Love Awakens Me
- Your Love Never Fails
This mix of songs we snot only makes our worship richer but also gives us tunes and words to lift us up and comfort us every day. Let these songs keep reminding us of the love we're meant to share, helping us to live out Jesus' command to love one another and to see and serve Christ in everyone we meet.
Questions and Answers for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B
What date is the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
The next date is Sunday May 5, 2024.
For other years see the links below:
6th Sunday of Easter Year A: Sunday May 10, 2026
6th Sunday of Easter Year C: Sunday May 25, 2025
What are the Mass readings for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday May 5, 2024 are:
First Reading - Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48: Holy Spirit Unites All
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 98: Salvation for All Nations
Second Reading - 1 John 4:7-1: God is Love
Gospel - John 15:9-17: Love and Friendship Commanded
What is the main message of the first reading on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
In the first reading on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, Peter learns that God's love is for everyone, not just certain people. He sees this when the Holy Spirit fills both Jews and Gentiles alike.
Why does Peter baptize the Gentiles in the first reading on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
Peter baptizes the Gentiles because he sees that they receive the Holy Spirit just like the Jews. This shows that God's love is for everyone, regardless of their background.
How does Peter react in the first reading on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
Peter realizes that God loves everyone equally, not just certain groups of people. He baptizes Gentiles, showing that they also receive the Holy Spirit.
What does the second reading talk about on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
The second reading emphasizes that love comes from God. Those who truly love know God because God is love. God showed His love by sending Jesus to die for our sins.
What does the second reading teach us about love on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
The second reading teaches that true love comes from God. If we love others, it shows that we know God because He is love itself.
What is the significance of God sending His Son, as mentioned in the second reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
God sending His Son demonstrates the depth of His love for us. Jesus' sacrifice shows that God wants to reconcile with humanity and forgive our sins.
What is the focus of the Gospel reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
In the Gospel reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B, Jesus tells His disciples to stay in His love by following His teachings. He wants them to have complete joy through loving one another.
How does Jesus define love in the Gospel reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
Jesus defines love as obeying His commandments and sacrificing for others. He wants His disciples to love one another as He loves them.
How does Jesus want His disciples to experience joy, according to the Gospel reading on the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
Jesus wants His disciples to experience joy by loving one another. When they follow His teachings and love each other, they will find true happiness.
What is the central command emphasized by Jesus in the Gospel reading for the 6th Sunday of Easter Year B?
The central command emphasized by Jesus is to love one another. This sums up His teachings and is crucial for His disciples to follow.
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