Gospel: John 15:9-17
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Perfect Joy
This Sunday, the text reminds us of the necessity of growing in knowledge, love and practice. Chapter 15 in St. John's Gospel continues a farewell address from Jesus to His disciples. The whole chapter is composed of four main messages:
The intimate relationship between the vine and the branches, insisting on the absolute necessity of the branches to remain attached and fed by the vine in order to give fruit;
Charity as the inner strength to maintain and sustain the Church's existence and continuity through mutual love and forgiveness;
The world's adversity to Jesus's Name, to His teaching and to His future faithful; and
The Spirit of Truth that illuminates the disciples and their witness to the Gospel in the world.
The first and last principle for St. John is about God's Nature being Love, "God is Love." 1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"...v.16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us." This manifests through God loving the world by sending His Son.
Let us concentrate upon how Jesus, The Teacher, refers to this love. It is shared with the Father, never selfish or one-sided, but shared. Without sharing, there is a vacuum of true love. Love requires abiding in, remaining a full member in sharing. It is a constant commitment of self-adherence and full faithfulness that persists despite all kinds of challenges and difficulties.
The evidence of this shared love is to persevere in trusting God through fidelity to His commandments. God's commandments are to be respected and implemented, not as an imposed order, but as a reciprocity of love and faith, neither of which can ever be imposed.
Responding to God's love by obedience to His commandments is a fruit of just and right relations to His love. Knowing Him through Christ, loving Him as Christ does, living His commands, and following Jesus's model brings the peace that passes human understanding and produces perfect joy. The Joy that The Word was made flesh to realize. (John 1:14).
Let us take a few minutes to consider the Lord's address to us today, and have the courage to go in depth with His words. Thank Him for what we are faithful to and ask Him to help us to grow more in His knowledge, love and the practice of charity in our daily life. May we experience His Peace and His perfect joy in our conscience, heart and mind!
Father Kamal - May 9, 2021