This week's readings Week of May 5-11 Sunday, May 5, 2002 Reading I: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Reading II: 1 Pt 3:15-18 Gospel: Jn 14:15-21 Monday, May 6, 2002 Reading I: Acts 16:11-15 Gospel: Jn 15:26-16:4a Tuesday, May 7, 2002 Reading I: Acts 16:22-34 Gospel: Jn 16:5-11 Wednesday, May 8, 2002 Reading I: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 Gospel: Jn 16:12-15 Thursday, May 9, 2002 Reading I: Acts 1:1-11 Reading II: Eph 1:17-23 Gospel: Mt 28:16-20 Friday, May 10, 2002 Reading I: Acts 18:9-18 Gospel: Jn 16:20-23 Saturday, May 11, 2002 Reading I: Acts 18:23-28 Gospel: Jn 16:23b-28 Pope's Prayer Intentions May General Intention That faithful Christians may show others the Gospel of hope: That Christians may so live the totality of their faith that they are credible witnesses to the hope of the Gospel. May Mission Intention That Mary ever Virgin Mary may help women in families and the world: That Mary, the most holy Virgin and Mother, may help all people and cultures safeguard and promote the social and family vocation of women.

Sanctify your hearts:

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

Sometimes we need to step back from what is going on in the world, in order to focus ourselves on what really matters, what is really important.

This is not to say that we bury our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. Rather, we need time away from anything that distracts us from our life as disciples of Jesus - and our lives are full of such distractions. In the midst of them, we can look into our hearts and ask the risen Lord who said "Peace be with you" to give us the gift of internal peace.

Readings for Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 5) Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalm 66: 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21

Peter, in his first letter, teaches the followers of Jesus to "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts." We might say it as "sanctify your hearts, for Christ is the Lord." We who are Jesus' followers accept him as our Lord, and by obeying what he has commanded us we let him sanctify us by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In a world which is distracting and often hateful, we must remember, as Peter teaches, that "it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil." Jesus did just that, in order to lead us to God. And even more than suffering for the good which he did, Jesus suffered for the evil which we have done - because that was God's will.

As we step back from all we read in the newspapers, see on television, download from the Internet, or hear on the radio, as we close our ears for a time to the distractions of a noisy world, we must open our hearts to the will and the word of Jesus. He who was "put to death in the flesh (and) brought to life in the Spirit" will do the same for us: he will help us to put to death all that is worldly and unworthy of God, and he will raise us up to the new life of the Spirit.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments," Jesus tells us. What does he command? "Repent! Pray! Forgive! Love!" Above all, let us forgive and love. It is in order to be able to do this that we repent from our old way of life. It is in order to do this that we pray to our heavenly Father.

"'If you love me, you will keep my commandments,' Jesus tells us. What does he command? 'Repent! Pray! Forgive! Love!' Above all, let us forgive and love. It is in order to be able to do this that we repent from our old way of life. It is in order to do this that we pray to our heavenly Father."

By learning to forgive, and by learning to ask for and accept forgiveness, we remove from our hearts the hard, stony parts and make room for the living Lord. He wants to sanctify our hearts. We are made for love, not for hatred; for forgiveness, not for grudges; for prayer, not self-centeredness; for holiness, not for sin.

Step back from the world. Close your eyes to a worldly way of thinking, and open your mind to Christ, the living God. Stop up your ears when they are filled with what deafens you to Christ, and open your heart to Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life. Take back your hand from material things and possessiveness, and let the Master put your hand to his plow, for the kingdom.

Most of all, let Jesus take you away from the world for a little retreat with him. Let him sanctify your heart, even in the middle of your daily life. Time with him is never wasted, but always profitable for those who desire to love God and one another whole-heartedly and with joy.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.