by Father Patrick Longalong
This weekend, the readings invite us into the theme of newness. And let’s be honest — new often means change.
Some people embrace change with excitement. Others resist it. Most of us, however, are somewhere in between. We are creatures of habit. We like the comfort of routine, the predictability of what’s familiar. But whether we welcome it or not, what is certain is that we all must learn how to live with and respond to what is new.
I remember one Easter Sunday, I received my very first orchid plant. I was delighted — the flowers were vibrant, full of life, and incredibly beautiful. But it didn’t take long to realize that this new gift would require something different from me. It was unlike any of the other plants I’d cared for. I couldn’t just water it like usual and hope for the best. Orchids are delicate. I had to study its temperament — how it needed indirect sunlight, a specific kind of potting mix, just the right balance of water and air. Too much care could drown it. Too little could cause it to wither.
That orchid taught me something about the new commandment Jesus gives in today’s Gospel: “Love one another. As I have loved you.” We often assume that love comes naturally, but real love — the kind Jesus calls us to — is something we have to learn. It takes intention. It requires discernment. Like caring for a delicate plant, we must figure out what love needs in each moment. What is too much? What is too little? What nurtures another person’s dignity, and what stifles their growth?
When Jesus says, “As I have loved you,” he calls us to something far deeper than simple kindness or polite gestures. His love is intentional, self-giving, and aware of healthy boundaries. It’s not a one-size-fits-all commandment — it requires us to be attentive to the people in our lives, to understand what helps them thrive and what may unintentionally harm.
This kind of love demands patience and a willingness to see beyond ourselves. It invites us to enter into the other person’s experience, to try and understand their perspective, not just our own.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas return from their missionary journey having encountered unfamiliar places, unexpected challenges, and newly forming communities of faith. Rather than boasting about their efforts, they focus on what God had accomplished through them. Their openness to the unfamiliar allowed the Gospel to take root in new hearts. And because they recognized God’s hand at work in every step, they were able to respond with humility — giving God the glory and trusting him to guide them through situations that may have otherwise felt overwhelming.
Building on this sense of renewal, the Book of Revelation offers a power vision of what God ultimately is bringing about. John sees “a new heaven and a new earth,” a vision of a world transformed by God’s presence — where every tear is wiped away, and all things are made new. That transformation doesn’t begin far off in the future. It begins now, in our relationships, in our communities, in the choices we make to love more deeply.
Loving one another as Jesus loved us isn’t automatic. It takes time, learning, humility, and grace. But just like caring for that orchid, if we’re patient and willing to learn, the result is something beautiful — something that reflects the very heart of God.
Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 14:21-27
Rev 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35
Father Patrick Longalong is the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village, and associate vicar for Migrant and Ethnic Apostolates in the diocese.