The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked us all to join in praying the rosary each day during the month of May, the month of Mary, following the example of the first Christian communities, asking her to lift up to the Lord our unceasing supplications for the end of the pandemic, as well as our particular intentions. (Reference Pontifical Council for Promotion of the New Evangelization, “Prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God” (cf. Acts 12:5), Liturgical Guide, May 2021).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus discloses how much he loves his followers. He loves them with the same love that the Father has for him: As the Father loves me, so I also love you. (Jn 15:9) Tim Gray [President of Augustine Institute] reminds us that Jesus loves us with that same divine intensity. Jesus asks us for something in return. What does he ask of us? Tim Gray says that the gospel tells us further: Abide in my love. Basically, Tim says we spend a lot of time thinking about our guilt, we think about our sins…our failings…, we think, “I’m no good, I’m a disappointment…” When we do that, we’re thinking about ourselves. He invites us instead to contemplate how much Jesus loves us? The Gospel tells us how to do that. Jesus tells us: If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. (Jn 15:10-11)

Finally, Tim says that Jesus wants his joy to be in us, and our joy to be complete. And the best way we can do that is by loving him more and experiencing his joy. The more we love, the more joyful we’re going to be. He added, if you think about the most joyful moments in your life…your wedding, the birth of a child…it was because of love that you were experiencing that joy, and that joy was overflowing. Joy is the fruit of love. Tim encourages us to pursue joy by loving and abiding in God’s word.

I pray for your continued good health and for the people of India. Thank you, Analise, for your heartfelt reflections. Blessings.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet,
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,
And timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen.