(Acts 8:5-8,14-17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21)

When we facilitate the Baptism Preparation sessions, we emphasise strongly how much the parents and Godparents need to be good role models. As part of the Confirmation sessions for both the young people and in the RCIA programme we also talk about Sponsors being good role models and encourage the Candidates to choose a Saint who they see as a good role model for their lives. But what do we mean by being a good role model? In the Gospel we hear today, Jesus tells us that those ‘who love Him and keep His commandments will be loved by Jesus and the Father. I would suggest that those who listen to the Word of God and keep it are suitable role models for us all. It is not enough to read or listen to the Word and then tell people about the Word, we must also put the Word at the centre of our life and obey. Jesus is telling us that it is our actions that demonstrate whether we love God or not.

If we are Godparents or Sponsors, do we remember that we are role models? Do we take our responsibility seriously?

The first reading is starting to prepare us for Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fills the disciples with courage and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles happened after Pentecost and the Apostles used those gifts to call down the Spirit to Baptise them in the Spirit, just as Jesus had stated. I think of the 80 young people from this Pastoral Area who were Confirmed at the Cathedral last Sunday. I pray they and their Sponsors will be thriving after celebrating this Sacrament. May their Sponsors be great role models and may these young people go on to be great role models for others in the future.

The Psalm used today reminds us of the joy of Easter [by recalling the Exodus reading of the flight from Egypt], that we are Easter people and that we need to share that joy with those we meet.

In the second reading St Peter is encouraging us to share that Good News in a gentle way, ensuring we are respectful to those we encounter. He is also telling us that because we are followers, we might be subject to false accusations. He says, ‘it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.’ He reminds us that Jesus, who was all good, ‘was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.’ Something we all hope for is to be ‘made alive in the spirit.’ This will help us to know why we follow Jesus and to be able to state why if we are challenged by anyone.

The words we hear from the Gospel are from the long prayer Jesus said at the Last Supper. Jesus, before the crucifixion prayed for all of his disciples, that includes us. He wanted us all to follow his commandments, obey his word and to be good role models to those around us. It is by following those commandments that we demonstrate our love for Jesus and that we know that Jesus loves us. We also know that when we try and fail to follow those commandments then we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help us be reconciled with God and our Community. St Pope John Paul II said about today’s Gospel ‘it shows us how love is the complete fulfilment of the person’s vocation, according to the plan of God. This love is the great gift of Jesus that makes us truly and fully human.’  St John Paul who was a great role model following the attempt on his life 45 years ago next Wednesday, he visited the man who shot him and offered him forgiveness.

St Pio of Pietrelcina [Padre Pio] said, “Let us always strive more and more to love the Lord. This great truth of loving God must not seem hard to us; on the contrary, we must consider ourselves honoured, because the Lord God didn’t limit himself to creating us and telling us to love him, but he made a commandment of it . . . He commands us to do so, and the commandment is full of love. It is he who instils it into our hearts. It is he who gives us the means to be able to love him. But that which is more surprising, he has also promised us the prize. It isn’t something that is temporary, passing, or limited. It is as eternal as he is eternal; it is as immense as he is immense; it is as lasting as he is lasting. And God lasts forever, for all eternity.”[1]

If we remember that we are made in the image and likeness of God and that God is love, then we are made in the image and likeness of love. We are made to love and be loved. Nothing else really matters. If we do not experience love, then we are living in a void. If we do not love, then we are not doing what we were created to do or being what we were created to be.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Sixth Sunday of Easter

CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper
CCC 243, 388, 692, 729, 1433, 1848: the Holy Spirit as Advocate/Consoler
CCC 1083, 2670-2672: invoking the Holy Spirit[2]

Please accompany in your prayers

  • All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
  • Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
  • Those who have completed and those who continue with the RCIA programme; especially those who received the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter.
  • The young people from our Pastoral Area who were Confirmed at Portsmouth Cathedral last Sunday.
  • The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
  • The success of the current Called & Gifted programme.
  • The young people preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist within our Pastoral Area, especially those celebrating their First Holy Communion this weekend.
  • Maia, Aaliyah and Hunter who will be baptised this Sunday at St Bede’s Church.

Deacon Tony

8th May 2026

[1] Padre Pio Quotes on Love – christian catholic frases

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments