Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 14,15-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father
and you are in me and I in you.
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.”
Knowing the Spirit
1. You will keep. When you truly love, it moves you to action. Love stirs a desire to give of yourself and create something meaningful. If someone loses their drive to do anything, it’s often because their love or sense of purpose has faded. There’s something special about seeing people who are in love—their joy is unmistakable. I remember, as a young man, how I thought about my girlfriend every day and always looked for ways to surprise her. Love makes you creative. The same thing happened when I decided to enter the seminary; I could handle sleeping on the floor, enduring the cold, and even getting sick didn’t bother me. When your motivation comes from love, and your love inspires you, nothing feels impossible and setbacks become opportunities. You find a way forward. As Christians, we’re called to remember our love for life and the many reasons we have to embrace it. This love inspires creativity and determination—when you’re motivated by love, and love is your motivation, you become unstoppable.
2. He remains with you. Today, I want to remind you that God never abandons you. In one way or another, He always finds a way to show you He’s present. Even when you go through hard times, you’ll sense His companionship. Try to notice God in your life—through the people you meet, the situations you face, or the messages you receive. Learn to listen for His voice. This Sunday, I invite you to remember that you are not alone; within you is the strength to keep going. That strength is the Holy Spirit, living in you, who will never let go of you.
3. Living. You have just one life, live it fully, and let others do the same. Don’t make life harder for anyone. Savor everything you do. Let go of the past and stop worrying about what’s ahead. Don’t live for what others think or for appearances. Live from your true self, accepting who you are. Face what’s difficult in your life and remember you always have the chance to change what bothers you about yourself. Create your own opportunities. Don’t compare your life to others; we all carry our own burdens. The goal isn’t getting there first; it’s just getting there. Life is short, and the secret is to keep moving forward. People may criticize, attack, or spread rumors about you. But if you have faith in yourself and in God, what you once thought would defeat you will actually make you stronger. Be courageous and keep fighting—God is by your side.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and guard you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
