THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of the fifth week of Easter, 2022

Acts 14:5-18

Ps 115

John 14:21-26

Whoever loves me will keep my word

The verb ‘to love’ occurs frequently in today’s gospel reading (Jn 14:21-26). It speaks of our love for Jesus, Jesus’ love for us, and God the Father’s love for us. God the Father expresses his love for us by giving us the Son. Jesus expresses his love for us by laying down his life for us, and by making known to us all he has learnt from the Father. We express our love for Jesus by keeping his word, by living according to his teaching, which, in John’s gospel, is summed up as ‘love one another as I have loved you’. 

The gospel reading also makes reference to the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. As the Father expresses his love for us by giving us the Son; the Father and Son together express their love for us by giving us the Holy Spirit. The role of the Holy Spirit, according to our reading, is to be our teacher, to keep bringing to our minds the teaching, the word, of Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps us to keep Jesus’ word, especially his command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. 

In that short gospel reading, there is a whole vision of the Christian life, of God’s relationship with us as Father, Son and Spirit, and of our relationship with each other.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, in love you created me and you draw me to yourself. May I never lose sight of you nor forget your steadfast love and faithfulness. Amen.

+Remain blessed