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.”
+ + + + + + +
Reflection:
A story is told about a woman who pledged his
undying love for God through her involvement in a charismatic prayer group. But the irony of her vocal profession of her
love for God was she wanted to forcibly establish her leadership in the
charismatic group. Even if many were against her leadership. Does this woman
love God and does she keep the commandments of God?
In our gospel Jesus talks about love, the Holy
Spirit and peace. How can we justify our love for God if we don’t keep His
words? How can we invite the sacred presence of the Holy Spirit and peace in
our lives if we shoo it away by our superficial love for God?
Many of us profess that we love God, that we
believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. Yes, we go to
Mass every Sunday but our actions are very much contrary to what we do and
profess.
In other words, what comes out from our mouths
are not in harmony with what we are doing. We have to ponder on this and think
of how we can make a radical transformation in our life of faith. So that we can truly
say that we are keeping and living the words of God.
Someday we will depart from this world. By
that time we will not be thinking of anything except of what would happen to us
when we depart this world. Where would we be: would we be in heaven or hell?
One sure way for us to enter heaven is quite
simple. And that is to love God and to keep His commandments to the core of our
hearts and minds. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
Thank you. God bless you.
ReplyDelete