Thursday, May 22, 2003
5th Week of Easter

1st Reading: Acts 15:7-21
Gospel: Jn 15:9-11

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love. You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

"I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

Commentary

To love Jesus is to embrace his whole Person. When St. Paul says, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," he is not simply referring to the mystical union that faith and baptism effect between Jesus and him/us. He means Jesus becoming the center of his/our being and acting so that his love for every man and woman inspires and vitalizes his/our actions. But how do we love when we are tired and weary? When we are ashamed, angry or vengeful? When we are cheated, maligned, or hurt? To love means to make choices. To love Jesus is to align our choices with those that Jesus would make if he were in our shoes. Do we know his mind and heart enough to make decisions like his?

TOP