"IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS,YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE,
JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS
AND REMAIN IN HIS LOVE."
JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS
AND REMAIN IN HIS LOVE."
Today the Lord Jesus continues to develop last Sunday’s idea of union with him as a condition to bear fruits of holiness in our lives. He does so by emphasizing that faithfully keeping his “Love Commandment” is the practical way to show the reality of our union with him and to bear fruit.
There is a life-giving relationship between union with Jesus and fruitfulness, fruitfulness and love, love and obedience to God’s Commandments. The Eucharist we are about to celebrate is a manifestation of our union with the Lord and among ourselves. It is also a most effective way to strengthen such union whenever we proclaim God’s Word, participate in shared prayer, and receive Holy Communion.
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
Euchalette, 17 May 2009
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