"If you love me, you will keep my commandments . . . and the
Father will send you another Advocate"
John14: 15-21
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051423.cfm
The simple axiom, “Where
there’s a will, there’s a way,” may help us understand the message of our
Gospel today. In fact, twelve times in
the Gospel, Jesus uses the word “will.”
Essentially what the
statement means is that if I truly want to do something, there will be a way, a
path, or a guide in which I can do it.
It might be to accomplish a musical instrument for example. The way to do that is to practice repeatedly
and be determined to master the instrument.
My will is strong enough to overcome resistance against it.
Same might be true about
Olympic level athletes who have the will to accomplish great physical ability. They know the way to do that is to train, be
disciplined, stay focused, and don’t give up.
Same is true with our
spiritual life. While we have no control
over what God will do, if we will or desire holiness the way is to take the
Lord seriously, participate in a sacramental life, allow him to be the center
of our lives, and be open to the Spirit’s grace. Our way is one of humility, prayer, and
selfless service to those in need. Everything else is grace by God’s will.
The Gospel scene today is a kind
of farewell, a last testimony to the Apostles before Jesus returns to his
Father. They know he has given them much
to ponder and to understand. Here he reassures them that if they truly remain
in his love, they will be able to understand more fully and deeply all that he
has given them.
We must believe in our
hearts and lives that God always wills our good. In fact, God is incapable to doing evil,
though at times we may wonder why he allows so much of it, but always wills us
good. In fact, the definition of love by
St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that love is “to will the good of another.” Jesus
promises his Apostles that though he may be leaving from their physical sight,
he will send another “advocate” to stand by their side. And that Spirit, though invisible, we become
a constant presence of himself and guide them along the way of truth, beauty
and goodness. In essence, it is the way we too must live our life in the Spirit now through our love for Christ and one another. This is what Jesus desires for those who profess faith in him.
The Spirit will come to them
and abide with them as the Spirit will gradually unfold for them the fullness
of who Jesus is and what their mission will demand. That is divine reassurance
that though he leaves, he remains with them in the Holy Spirit. This will bring
about what every Christian should desire and hope for: that deeper experience
of the love of God.
In speaking of love, Jesus
is not referring to affection, emotion, or warm feelings, the usual indicator
of love for another. What he is
requesting of his Apostles is their loyalty.
We can rephrase: “If you are loyal to me (love me), you will keep my
commandments.”
Though his apostles had been
disloyal at a time he needed their support the most as they abandoned him at
the time of his arrest in the garden of gethsemane, Jesus still asks for their
loyalty now which is expressed in the living out of his commands. The commands are not meant to be negative but
rather life giving. True love is
expressed in deeds and their loyalty will produce fruit.
We might use the example of
a married couple who show their deepest love for the other by their loyalty:
for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, until
death. I will remain faithful or loyal to you throughout our marriage and in
that way I indicate my true love for you. It is beyond feelings and sharing
good times. If a husband stands in defense of his wife or a wife in
defense of her husband, that certainly indicates a level of love that is lived
out in loyalty. If he or she stands by the bedside of a seriously ill or
mentally deficient spouse, such loyalty reveals their true love lived out in
deeds of faithfulness. Same, in the case
of disciples of the Lord with far greater results.
Our first reading from the
Acts of the Apostles is a wonderful example of this. The pressure was on for the early Christian
communities in Jerusalem and that area since they were increasingly becoming
viewed as a threat to Judaism and the Jewish way of life with its multiple
legal requirements. This first reading picks up shortly after the death of St. Stephan,
the deacon in Jerusalem, the first to die to his faith in Christ. A persecution
has broken out and so Philip, the new deacon, fled the city to Samaria, north
of Jerusalem.
There the Spirit begins to
work as the crowds all listened attentively to the message of Philip, as they
witnessed exorcisms and healings being worked. As he baptized these new
converts, both Peter and John, came to join him as they imposed hands and
prayed for the coming of the Spirit upon the new Christians. In the case, we hear what may sound to us of
the origin of the sacrament of Confirmation. These primary Apostles, the first Bishops
of the Church and leaders among the believers, like our own Bishop today, are
called to lay hands and pray over those to receive the Spirit.
As the early Apostles and
the early Christians found themselves with a new direction and a new social
order of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and service, they came to
understand more deeply the meaning of Jesus’ mission and that of their own in
the world. In the end, this made them
unique among the culture around them.
Yet, they remained loyal to the end and countless thousands even went to
martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel.
Where there is a will there
is a way. The will to love and be loyal
to the way of Christ, will lead us on the path to eternity. The Gospel is
timeless and the Spirit is constantly present guiding us to understand that
“deposit of faith” as we call it.
Our common share in the Eucharist
is the undeniable sign that the Gospel of Christ is meant for all. Here we gather as one family in a blind
acceptance of the differences among us and in gratitude for the gift of
diversity, which is a sign of the fullness and richness of God.
Grant, almighty God,
that we may celebrate with
heartfelt devotion
these days of joy,
which we keep in honor of
the risen Lord,
and that what we relive in
remembrance
we may always hold to in
what we do.
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.
(Collect of Mass)
No comments:
Post a Comment