HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY EASTER YEAR A.
THEME: If you Love Jesus, Obey His Commands.
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa, MA.
Our gospel text for today (John 14:15–21) is a continuation of the farewell discourse of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus focuses on the sending of the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and keeping his commandments as a sign of love for him.
Today is also Mother’s Day in the United States. Happy Mother’s Day to you, dear mothers. We can’t thank you enough for your maternal love and sacrifices for us. Thank you so much, and may God continue to bless and reward you.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is preparing to leave his apostles but tells them that though his presence with them may change, it is not an excuse for them not to live a life that shows that they love him. Thus, he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Remarkably, there are different types of love, but Jesus is referring to “agape”—a type of love that is, in and of itself, the keeping of the commands of God. Agape is loving, like God loves us.
Agape love is not based on feelings and emotions. Instead, it is a deliberate act of the will, a joyous determination to prioritize the welfare of others over our own. So, at the heart of agape love are goodwill, sacrifice, benevolence, and concern and care for others.
It was agape love that moved God to send his Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world from the bondage of sin. Agape love is the type of love that Jesus wants us to have for one another. Jesus proclaims, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you” (John 15:12).
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A.
And who else better represents this type of love than a good parent? A good parent, especially a good mother, wants the best for their child and is willing to go to any lengths to get it. In this way, they are like Jesus Christ, who is the personification of God’s love and who loves us so much that he died on the cross to save us.
Moreover, any true relationship must have agape love as its benchmark and goal. Agape love is an unconditional love for others—going out of our way to serve others, caring for others, spending time with those who need our presence, and laying down our lives for our neighbors (1 John 3:16). It is exactly the will of God for us, and it is how Jesus expects his disciples to live even in his absence.
Once more, a very happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. Rest assured of my prayers, and know that I love you all. Let us also ask the Holy Spirit to teach us how to love our neighbors like Jesus loves us. Amen!
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