Fifth Sunday of Easter 2025

This is my friend Ange!  She is not the lady mentioned in the story below but we did meet up in front of Starbucks right before this incident occurred!

 I had a funny experience recently. I was at Target, walking to the checkout with a pack of socks when a lady stopped me and asked, "Excuse me, where can I find the brooms?" 

It took me a moment to realize why—red shirt, blue vest—I looked like a Target employee. It’s a good reminder that what we wear and how we present ourselves can make a real impression.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us what our true mark of identity should be as His disciples. It’s not a uniform or a name tag, but love. 

He says, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This is our true uniform as Christians—a visible, recognizable love.

In our first reading from Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas returning to the communities they founded, despite facing countless hardships along the way. 

They strengthen the spirits of the disciples, reminding them that “it is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” 

It’s a sober but profoundly hopeful message. They understood that discipleship isn’t always easy, and true love often demands sacrifice. 

But they also understood that every act of love, every moment of perseverance, is a step closer to the kingdom.

This is exactly the kind of love Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel—the kind that makes our faith visible to the world. 

It’s a love that doesn’t just endure trials but transforms them. It’s the “uniform” that identifies us as Christ’s disciples.

And in the second reading from Revelation, we catch a glimpse of where this path of love leads—a new heaven and a new earth where God’s dwelling is with us, where every tear is wiped away, and death and pain are no more. 

This is the promise that sustains us. It’s the vision of what happens when we choose to live in love, no matter the cost. It’s a reminder that every act of sacrificial love helps build this new creation, even when it goes unnoticed by the world.

So, how do we wear this love that sets us apart as disciples of Jesus? 

It means being patient when our patience is tested, speaking kindly when it would be easier to remain silent, and forgiving when it costs us something. 

It’s a love that shows up in the small, often unnoticed moments of daily life.

For example, think of the kindness of a grandparent who always makes time for their grandchildren, even when they’re tired. 

Or the patience of a parent sitting through a noisy, chaotic dinner, gently guiding their children. 

Or the quiet strength of someone who visits a lonely neighbor, not because it’s convenient, but because it’s the loving thing to do. 

These moments may seem small, but they are powerful witnesses to the love of Christ. They are the “uniform” that marks us as His disciples.

As we continue our Easter journey, let’s remember that our identity as Christians isn’t just about the outward things—our titles, our positions, or even our Sunday best. 

It’s about the love we wear on our hearts every day. That’s the uniform the world needs to see—the unmistakable, undeniable sign that we belong to Christ.

Let’s pray that we never forget to put on that true uniform of love, making Christ visible in our words and actions.