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
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 14:5-18
There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.
At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
“The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.
The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 14:21-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
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
whom the Father will send in my nameB
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”
May 16, 2022
MONDAY V Easter
(John 14:21-26)
GOD’S TEACHINGS
Contemplation
Dear People of God,
Jesus said to his disciples, as well as to everyone, that:
“Whoever loves Me will keep My commandments, and I will love him, just as My Father will love him. The Father and I will come and stay with him.”
What are the commandments of God? That is:
Love God above all things
Love your neighbor as yourself.
And obey God in all things as Jesus obeyed God the Father even to the point of willingly dying on the Cross. It was through that obedience that He conquered death and defeated satan.
God loves man and wants to save him. He showed people the way to eternal life. That is to keep the commandments that Jesus commanded. The commandments that Jesus commanded were not of his own accord, but were from God the Father. What the Father commanded Jesus to tell people, Jesus obeyed and did exactly according to the Father’s command. What the Father is, so is the Son. The Father and the Son are one.
All creatures in the world belong to God, are His children. He does not distinguish between good and bad people. While still living on the earthly pilgrimage, the words He taught are the Living Words for everyone. Those who want to stay with God will keep the Word of God; and God will abide in that person.
God’s word today, God also revealed that the three divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are working together in the work of man’s salvation.
Before Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, He had promised to send the Holy Spirit as Paraclete who will accompany people.
This age is the age of the Holy Spirit who will help people understand more about God’s saving work, understand the mystery of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit made known to man: there is only one God. The revelation to man to know the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit is for man to distinguish by name and calling, and to distinguish from time to time when God saves man. But never divided into three Gods. God’s power is everywhere. Therefore, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same God. Who remains in the Father; whoever remains in the Spirit of the Holy Spirit also remains in the love of the Triune God, and is saved by God and rewarded with the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
God bless you and peace be with you!
