“And here the first
word that I wish to say to you: joy! Do not be men and women of sadness: a
Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy
born of having many possessions, but of having encountered a Person: Jesus, in
our midst.” ― Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy
Gospel
Text: (JN 15:9-11)
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in
my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that
my joy might be in you and
your joy might be complete.”
Jesus gives us the secret to a life of complete
joy: obeying God's commands. In Mt 22: 37 – 40, Jesus gives us the two
greatest commandments: to "love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul and with all your mind" . . . and to "love
your neighbor as yourself. The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these
two commandments."
This is the secret to happiness and yet many
people do not heed the instruction. Why are we unable to obey God's
commandments?
In today's world where individual freedom is so
important, obedience seems to be losing strength as a value. Human power has
been so emphasized that at times we no longer see the need for God. Plus
in reality it is not that easy to follow God's commandments.
It is not easy to love God when we see and
experience pain and suffering in life. We expect a God who provides for our
needs, one who gives us good times and good things. How can we love a God who
allows poverty and hunger, war and sickness, and so many calamities to come.
Why?
It is also difficult to love others as
ourselves because of our selfish nature and especially if the other seems
unlovable, if the other does not love us and even hurts us. How can a son
respect a drunkard-father? A wife an unfaithful husband? A friend who has
cheated?
The Lord does not provide easy answers. He
simply calls us to remain in his love and promises true joy. This is the
obedience Jesus showed: despite pain, rejection and suffering, he remained
faithful to what the Father wanted.
The obedience and love Jesus showed are beyond
our ordinary logic. With loving obedience, he believed all will be well.
We are called to do the same. Are we
willing to forego logic and trust and remain in God's love?
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