20-May-19

Gospel JN 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."
Reflection:
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."
I think to myself: I love Jesus and try to observe His commandments (although Imperfectly). But, He has never revealed himself to me.
And then I remember: Yes, He did reveal Himself to me.
I saw Him in the sad smile of that homeless woman pushing the shopping basket. I saw Him on that freezing morning last winter, in the beat-up face of the man standing in front of the coffee shop without a coat. I saw Him in the tears of those mourning the death of our dear friend, Father Joe.
Jesus reveals Himself to us all the time if we have the heart and eyes to see.
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....."
Elsewhere in Scripture Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.....". (Rev. 3:20)
It is by loving God and others and doing our best to keep His word that we invite Jesus and Our Father to enter our hearts and "dwell" within 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.
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."
Throughout Scripture, Jesus constantly points to the Father as the source of everything He tells us. He shares with us that in His name our Father will send us an "Advocate."
An advocate is both a guide and a cheerleader. As parents we are advocates for our children. When our child is on the field, they may not acknowledge us in the stands. But, whether they miss a pass or score a goal, their eyes immediately turn to where we are sitting. Our child sees our concerned look and encouraging thumbs up when they need it and hear our excited, enthusiastic cheering when they score.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, sent to us by Our Father, is our personal cheerleader; encouraging us in our despair and urging us on as we make God's love known to others through our words and good deeds.
"Invite the Holy Spirit to lead your decisions and emotions today!" John 14:15-17