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 Jesus and our Father in heaven. To love Christ is to keep his commandments and to love our neighbor is to keep the commandments. To obey the commandments given to us by the God is to love Jesus Christ and to love Jesus Christ is to love God. Likewise, to love our neighbor is to love Jesus Christ and therefore to love the Father.  During the last supper, Jesus explained the level of true love that he himself will pour out for us. If we truly love Jesus, we will strive with all our ability to keep his word. When you are disobedient or try to alter the teachings or even rationalize something contrary to his teachings, 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 because we do not like what he teaches. 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 God. 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.” Jesus did not come to condemn us, he came to save us from our sins. He loves us so much that He provides absolutely everything we need to get to the gates of heaven.  He provides the road map, we just need to follow.  If we decide to ignore his teaching, we will face our final judgment in front of his Father. God made us to love and to share in the love that he created for us. To know God is to know true love. The Holy Spirit, which is the love shared between the Father and the Son, 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 Jesus Christ.  This was never more evident than in last night’s Confirmation ceremony as 101 young members of the church stepped up and said Amen to gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

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