Fifth Sunday of Easter: On The Mission

On May 18, 2025, the Fifth Sunday of Easter in Year C of the Catholic liturgical cycle, the readings offer a profound meditation on love, renewal, and the mission of the Church, themes that resonate deeply with two significant events occurring on this day: the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV and the birthday of Saint John Paul II. Reflecting on these readings in light of these events provides a rich opportunity to consider the continuity of the Church’s mission and the call to embody Christ’s love in a new era.

The readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, as outlined in the liturgical calendar, begin with the Entrance Antiphon from Psalm 98:1-2: “O sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders; in sight of the nations he has shown his deliverance, alleluia.” This sets a tone of joy and renewal, inviting the faithful to celebrate God’s transformative power. The First Reading from Acts 14:21-27 recounts the conclusion of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. Despite facing rejection in Antioch in Pisidia, they retrace their steps, strengthening the disciples and appointing elders, demonstrating resilience and the importance of community in spreading the Gospel. Their journey back to Antioch in Syria, where they report how God “had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles,” underscores the universal mission of the Church—a mission that feels particularly poignant as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, begins his Petrine ministry on this day.

The Second Reading from Revelation 21:1-5a presents John’s vision of the new Jerusalem, where God declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” This vision of a renewed creation, free from tears and death, speaks to the hope of ultimate reconciliation and the fulfillment of God’s promises. On this day, as Pope Leo XIV is inaugurated, this reading invites reflection on how the Church, under new leadership, can be a beacon of renewal in a world marked by division and conflict. Leo XIV’s election, coming after his decades of service to the poor in Peru and his role in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, suggests a pontificate that may prioritize missionary outreach and dialogue—values that echo the Augustinian principles he has lived by and the call to “make all things new” through Christ’s love.

The Gospel from John 13:31-33a, 34-35, at the heart of the Last Supper discourse, captures Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus emphasizes that this love will be the defining mark of his disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” This call to radical, self-giving love is both a challenge and a promise, especially on a day when the Church celebrates the inauguration of a new pope. Pope Leo XIV, in his first address on May 8, echoed this theme, urging the faithful to “build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace.” His words align with the Gospel’s emphasis on love as the foundation of Christian witness, suggesting that his pontificate may focus on fostering unity and peace in a polarized world.

Adding another layer of significance, May 18 marks the birthday of Saint John Paul II, born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century, became a global symbol of courage and faith, famously declaring at his 1978 inauguration, “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” His papacy, which played a pivotal role in the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, embodied the missionary zeal and fearless love that the readings call for. Interestingly, Pope Leo XIV referenced this same spirit of courage in his homily on May 11, saying, “Take courage! Without fear!” The coincidence of his inauguration on John Paul II’s birthday feels providential, highlighting a continuity of mission. Both popes, coming from outside the traditional European center of the Church—John Paul II from Poland and Leo XIV from the United States—represent the Church’s universality, a theme that resonates with the Acts reading and its focus on opening the door of faith to all nations.

The inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, held at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, is a historic moment for the Church. As the first U.S.-born pope, Leo XIV brings a unique perspective, shaped by his Chicago roots and his missionary work in Peru. His choice of the name Leo, inspired by Leo XIII’s focus on social justice in the modern era, signals an intent to address contemporary challenges like technological change and workers’ rights. The Mass, attended by global leaders and thousands of faithful, marks the formal start of his pontificate, a moment of renewal that mirrors the “new heaven and new earth” of Revelation. The Gospel’s call to love finds a living expression in Leo XIV’s early messages, which emphasize peace, dialogue, and service to the marginalized—values that also defined John Paul II’s legacy.

Reflecting on these readings and events, I’m struck by the interplay of love and renewal. The Church, on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, is reminded that its mission is to love as Christ loves, a love that is fresh, sacrificial, and universal. Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration, coinciding with Saint John Paul II’s birthday, feels like a divine invitation to carry forward this mission with courage and hope. As the Church steps into this new chapter, the readings challenge us to embody Christ’s love in our communities, to be agents of renewal in a broken world, and to trust that God, who makes all things new, will guide us through the leadership of Leo XIV, just as He did through John Paul II. In this moment, the call to “love one another” becomes a rallying cry for the Church’s future, uniting past, present, and future in the timeless mission of Christ.