Reflection
“Remain(s) in me” appears in this short Gospel passage from John a total of five times.  Do you think Jesus is trying to send us a message?  Let’s look a little closer.  The first presentation is “remain in me, as I remain in you.”  Pretty simple and straightforward.  The second—“so neither can you unless you remain in me”—sounds a like a warning.  The third—“Whoever remains in me”—opens God’s love to everybody.  “Whoever” is pretty inclusive!  Next: “Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out.…”  Any questions?  Finally, “If you remain in me” clearly indicates that it’s up to us.  God’s gifts are there for the asking.

Prayer
Father Vine Grower, allow us to remain in you.  Prune us to bear a musical harvest that is rooted in your word to sustain your family.

Meyer J. Chambers
Boston College
Boston, Massachusetts

Song of the Week
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD (David Haas; c. 1983; GIA Publications) 

REFRAIN:
We have been told,
We've seen his face
and heard his voice alive in our hearts;
"Live in my love with all your heart,
as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you."

VERSE 3
"No greater love is there than this:
to lay down one's life for a friend."

Common Good Connections:
In the end, we are called to live a life of love, just as Jesus did.  Are we called to die on a cross?  No... that job's been done already.  How about starting a new church?  Nope... that job's been done already, too.  Rather than imitate exactly what's been done by those who have come before us, we are called to find our own unique way of giving our life in love for God and others.  What that is for you, only you and the good Lord can say.

But, I would suggest that this life of love includes loving the WHOLE world, not just some piece of it.  We will live that love in relation to only a small portion of the world, but our compassion, concern, and prayer is to be boundless... and boundary-less.  One of my favorite bumper stickers reads, "God bless the whole world.  No exceptions."  The principle of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) calls us to a spirit of Solidarity and the realization that we are in one family with the whole of humankind.  And CST calls us to a spirit of care of the environment, which is the realization that we are in one family with the whole of creation.

Such a spirit is only possible with the Spirit of God, but it is possible, in our own unique, limited way.  To live a life dedicated to the Common Good means living in the love of Jesus, and sharing that love with all.

Wednesday, May 6
It's the last Common Prayer of the year, so we'd love to have lots of folks there!

Thursday, May 7
A "thank you" to everyone for a great year... the parish's volunteer appreciation cook-out, starting at 5:30 PM in Old St. Joe's.  Come for dinner and stay for practice!

Practice at our usual time of 7-8:30 PM.  This is the last regular one of the year, so everyone is welcome!

Sunday, May 10
Liturgies at our usual times of 10 AM and 7 PM... with a year-end blessing for all the students.

Thursday, May 14
It's our practice for the Baccalaureate Mass, 7-8:30 PM... everyone who is around is welcome to help out!

Sunday, May 17
Baccalaureate Mass, with a continental breakfast starting at 7:45 AM and practice starting at 8:15 AM... all in Schuldes Sports Arena.

1st Reading - Acts 9:26-31
He explained how the Lord appeared to Saul and spoke to him on his journey.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps. 66
Let all the earth cry in joy to the Lord!

2nd Reading - 1 John 3:18-24
His commandments are these: that we believe and that we love one another. 

Gospel - John 15:1-8
They who live in me, and I in them, bear much fruit.