Blessed By God When We Take the Road Less Travelled Toward the New Jerusalem of Shiny Jasper!

We are on the go! On a journey toward the new city of Jerusalem!  The new city is so beautiful as described in Revelations!  "It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites." Our new city needs no sun or moon as God and His lamb provide all the light we need! All we have to do is weather all the worldly distractions of this Earth School and follow God's word.  We cannot rely on man or even ourselves, only God, His ways are the only ways. Moses learned this the hard way when He thought he know over God to get to the Promised Land. Rely on God alone. Following His teachings, commandments, and His will alone, not ours.  As it says in John, cursed be the man who trusts man. Trust in God alone and have great Faith, the Father knows best for us. Do we want to spend eternity with our Lord and Savior? Do we want to take the road less travelled to get to the new city of Jerusalem filled with all of God's promises?  We are children on God! All we have to do is love Jesus Christ, follow Him and Our Father's word, have faith and trust in Him and allow His Holy Spirit to manifest in us during our life times here, staying in Spirit always, focused on God alone, not man.  We have to have a perfect attitude and hope. We need to be pure like God! We need to follow His plan and purpose.  Do you see the evidence now today of you doing this in your life? Are you following the will of God in your life? Following His teachings, His commandments, His will? Look for the evidence, stay on the right right toward the New Jerusalem.  It is not going to be easy, nothing hard ever is, but if we want to spend eternity with our Lord we need to live by His Word and follow Him and His son on this journey here! His promise is available to all of us if we follow Him!  We are so blessed if we do heed His word and stay in His Holy Spirit always!  O God, let all the nations praise you!

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Reading I
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
about this question.
The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right.  Farewell.’”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!

or:
R Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
            may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
            among all nations, your salvation.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
            because you rule the peoples in equity;
            the nations on the earth you guide.
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
            may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
            and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R Alleluia.

Reading II
Revelations 21:10-14, 22-23
The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 14:23-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”