Love of Jesus is love of God, The Father
A reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2008
Based on Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans
The Gospel Reading for the sixth Sunday after Easter is extremely plan and clear, by loving and living our daily lives in accord with the teachings of Christ we exhibit our love for God, The Father. In reading the following passage from John 14 one can not interpret it in any way except that by following Christ’s teachings we live our lives in accord with God’s desire for us.
The reading also emphasizes that when we live our lives according to the teachings of Christ we are given the Holy Spirit within us as our counselor and guide.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:15-24)
The reading also emphasizes that the Holy Spirit can not be seen but lives within us who accept Christ and attempt, to the best of our human ability to live our daily lives with love for all God’s children, with compassion for the sick, aged, lonely, hungry, homeless and marginalized.
Christ ends the message with a firm affirmation that “"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
The questions we have to ask ourselves are these; “Do we seek our God and take time to communicate with Him on a daily basis? Do we take advantage of the gift Christ gave us of His body and blood in the Eucharist regularly? Do we give back to God a percentage of the gifts He has given to us by contributing to those who are in need and to support the work of the church by tithing in time or a monetary way?
Do we speak out against injustice, violence, war, poverty and discrimination?
These are the things that Christ did when He walked this earth and showed us the way to the Father.
We need to follow His example if we wish to be welcomed into the Fathers house and claim the home prepared for us there.
The following is a prayer to invoke the Holy Spirit to abide within us and to guide and lead us every day of our life. The more one invokes the Holy Spirit, the more we feel the Spirit Christ promised working within us. May Almighty God fill us with the Spirit and shower us with His infinite mercy and love every day of our life. AMEN
Prayer to The Holy Spirit
By Father Robert Johnnene OFD
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans
O Most Holy Spirit, merciful Comforter; Come, I beseech You, and take up abode in my heart. Let my weaknesses be penetrated with your strength, so that I may always do what is right and just. Fill my heart with charity toward all I encounter. Enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts. Purify and cleanse me of all sin and sanctify my soul protecting and shielding me from the temptations that plague me. Make me truly humble that I may be pleasing to Almighty God. Instill within me an honest respect of Almighty God and all of His creations. Assist me to be an instrument of God's Word to all I encounter. Give unto me the gift of Wisdom to know and live according to God’s will. By your generous bestowing of your gifts, help me to live a holy life and grow in the everlasting love of Christ so that I may join with all the heavenly elect when my days here on earth are ended. I ask this through Jesus Christ, my redeemer and savior, who lives, and reigns with you and our creator Almighty God as one triune God, now and forever. AMEN
