Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
In today’s Gospel, we see a continuation of the themes from Sunday. Jesus tells us, “whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.” I am intrigued by the fact that he first says whoever “has” my commandments, not just whoever “knows” them. We hear in the book of Hebrews, “I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Hebrew 8:10). Through the Grace we received in our baptism, we have this law in our minds and engrave it upon our hearts. But this isn’t enough, for we must “observe them” in order to show our love for Jesus. This love we show by keeping his word and observing his new commandment of loving one another with a sacrificial love leads us to an openness of heart and strength of faith to be loved and healed by the Father. God is already in our hearts waiting for us to embrace him but too often we spend much effort looking for him outside ourselves. But Jesus tells us that through our response to his love for us and our observance to his words Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, “will come to us and make his dwelling with us.” This grace is what calls us to cry out, “Not to us, O Lord, but to Your name give the glory.”
Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections