The Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those You were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under Your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us – When we were baptized, we died with Christ and rose to new life. We entered into a covenant with God, becoming His adopted children, members of His family, the Church. We renew that covenant every time we receive our Lord in the Eucharist. The Paschal Mystery plays out in our lives as we continually strive to die to ourselves and embrace the will of God, to surrender to our Lord and live for Him, to take up our Cross and follow Christ, and to receive the new life He gives us.

You were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism – Baptism is not merely a symbol; it changes us ontologically, in our very being. It indelibly marks us as God's children. It infuses us with sanctifying grace and divine life. It fills us with the indwelling of the Blessed Trinity. It makes us new creatures in Christ, sons and daughters in the Son, heirs to the kingdom of Heaven, members of Christ's very Body.

under Your protective care – How often do we reflect on God's protective care? Do we realize how much He guards us and nurtures us every day, every moment, of our lives? So why are we afraid? Why are we anxious? If God is all-powerful (and He is), if He loves us infinitely (and He does), why do we not trust Him to work all things out for good as He has promised to do?

bear much fruit – God wants us to be fruitful vines, channels of His love to those around us. We are to make His love active in the world by allowing it to flow through us freely.

come to the joys of life eternal – We can begin living eternal life right now, not fully of course, but truly, for we are new creatures in Christ, filled with the divine presence, drawn into intimacy with God, and loved beyond all telling. In this joy, we long for and make our way to the fullness of joy that we will find in Heaven.