GOSPEL POWER l MAY 16, 2022 - MONDAY

5th Week of Easter

Gospel: Jn 14:21-26  

Jesus said, 21“They who have my commandments and keep them  are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my  Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22Judas (not  Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to  us, and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered him, “Those who love  me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will  come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not  love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not  mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 25‘I have said these things  to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,  whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything,  and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

Love for Jesus is not proven by great deeds and  accomplishments. Jesus does not expect us to show our  love by conquering many hearts for his sake. The only heart  he expects us to conquer is our own, through a humble submission  of our will in obedience to his commandments. To love Jesus is to  obey him, just as Jesus loved his Father by perfectly obeying him  in everything. Perhaps, Jesus does not answer the apostle Jude’s  question of why he will not reveal himself to the world, because it  will be the task of his own disciples to reveal his identity by uniting  their wills with him in everything. Obedience creates unity, and unity  will witness to the world that Jesus comes from God (cf. Jn 17:23). 

Lord Jesus, help us to grow in love by keeping our wills united with yours. Amen.