Do you love me? . . . Do I love you?

Sixth Sunday of Easter-Year C

May 5, 2013

Year of Faith

First Reading: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29

Psalm: 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23

Gospel Reading: John 14: 23-29

Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will be true to my word . . .” (John. 14:23).  We love Jesus if we do what he said and commanded to us; that is why, we have to keep in our hearts everything he said.  Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, she kept all things that happened to her Son Jesus in her Immaculate Heart, for she loved Jesus.  Also, we always are remembering those words of Him to keep them alive every day in our lives. Whenever we reflect and meditate daily the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, while we are doing our works in the house, in the office and anywhere we are, we call to mind Him.  In doing this, Jesus lives in us and we live in Him.  We keep his word alive, when in the morning, for example, we make a sign of the cross and say a little prayer that we are still alive; we thank Him for the food we are about to receive in the breakfast, lunch and dinner aside from the snacks or merienda in between these meals; we praise Him when we reach our destination – safely, for the works we have and the materials things we received that support our basic needs; we rejoice for the family, relatives, friends and other acquaintances He shared to us to be our companions in life – to make our lives colorful and full of joy.  For, if we do this, truly we know and feel the presence and love of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ dwelling in us.  No one can love Jesus if he or she does not take his word seriously, as what He said: “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words” (John 14:24).  Jesus occupies our heart, our life, our being, when we keep His word!

To give you an example, we can say in human language, this word of Jesus.  When you love somebody, you do everything to please him/her and even the smallest detail in him/her life you try to find, know and understand to learn how to show how much important he/she is in your life.  You do some extra-efforts to discover the totality of your loved one.  Although there is always room for him/her to grow and not to suffocate him/her of your so-called “love” – either an eros or agape kind of love.  You become crazy if you do not see him/her.  Right?  But, if you do not love him/her, you are not interested to know anything about him/her; you do not care and mind him/her either; as if he/she does not exist.  Above all, you do not want to see his/her face; you vomit and detest him/her all the days of your life.  Therefore, there is no space for him/her in your heart.  Thus, if we love Jesus, He has all the spaces occupy in our heart; and He can save us, for He can change us.

Nevertheless, how can we keep Jesus’ word in every day of our lives?  In us and by us alone we cannot do it nor to keep it as our promise; and, Jesus knows this.  That is why, God the Father is going to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, to constantly teach us and to let us know, and live, and keep everything Jesus taught and said and preached.  Also, the Holy Spirit will constantly remind us when we forget what Jesus told us to do.  “I have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John 14: 25-26).   

Another thing for sure, Jesus makes his disciples and us comfortable and worry-free.  He guarantees them and us not to fear or be afraid and feel guilty when they and us forget to keep his word when He leaves them and us, for He said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you . . .  Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).  Jesus knows us, for He loves us and He keeps his promise to us.  He knows our limitations, our fears and anxieties, our weaknesses, and sinfulness, that is why He is giving us a gift of peace in order not to worry when something happens and we forget all the things we learned – all will lost because of too much worries.  So, therefore, Jesus knows the remedy – the Peace that the world cannot give.  What we need only is to repent, believe in Him and in His word, and believe to the One who sent Him – God the almighty Father.

Question(s) for reflection:

Look at the Holy Face of Jesus, look at His eyes, and ask yourself:

1.  Do you love me? (as if Jesus is asking us), and

2.  Do I love you? (asking ourselves, in front of this Holy Face, if we love Jesus).

Repeat these questions many times and alternate.