Gospel: Jn 14:21-26
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JESUS said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And 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 that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”
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A covenant rests on both parties “keeping their word.” In the Mosaic covenant, keeping the commandments of the Lord is a necessary stipulation of the contract. In return, the Lord promises blessings – like bountiful harvest and herds, progeny, and protection from enemies. In Jesus’ case, “keeping his words” is his follower’s proof of love. Believers attach their whole being in faithfulness to Jesus, acting out in love and self-oblation in imitation of Jesus’ sacrificial love offering. As he explains elsewhere, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?…For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Mt 12:48-50).
Thus, “keeping my word” is akin to “doing the Father’s will” in love.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
