Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 14:21-26

 

Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "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  he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us about the meaning of love. He tells us what it truly means to love someone. Love is an action out of respect for Christ and for God. To love Christ is to keep his commandments. To obey Christ is to love Christ and to love Christ is to love God. During the last supper, Jesus explained the level of true love that is about to be poured out for all of humanity. If we truly love Christ, we will keep his word. When you are disobedient to the teaching of Christ, it means that you do not truly love him and honor him. Many times we try to debate his teachings or to rationalize his commandments. We make up excuses why it’s okay to do something that we know is wrong. This is the same thing as trying to deceive Christ. When we try to deceive someone, we are telling them that we don’t really love them. Christ tells us, “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.” Christ did not come to condemn us, he came to save us from our sins. However, if we decide to ignore his teaching, we will have to face our final judgment in front of his Father. God made us to love. To know God is to know true love. The Holy Spirit allows us to grow in the experience of God and his unlimited love. There is nothing more fulfilling then the love poured out by God for us through Christ.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Most heavenly Father,

Send down your Holy Spirit to inflame my heart and soul.

Make me a servant of your love through my words and my actions.

May I never forget the love which you poured out for me.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon