Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
I learned about the Ten Commandments when I was in grade school like most of us did. Our class went to Confession once a month and that is when we were supposed to confess our sins. I don’t remember many specific details about that whole process but I distinctly remember the intense feelings associated with it. I felt terror. After confessing my sins I do not remember feeling peace or joy, let alone experiencing the mercy of God. I only remember feeling intense relief at having lived through the experience once more. It wasn’t until I was well into adulthood I figured out how that was related to my relationship with God.
Today’s Gospel reading from John Chapter 14 is from the Last Supper Discourses. In this particular passage
(Jn 14: 21-26) Jesus is talking to his disciples about his commandments and obedience. He directly ties love to obedience and obedience to love. “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me” (Jn 14: 21) and “…Whoever loves me will keep my word…” (Jn 14:23). How often do we see Jesus encounter the self righteous who live the law without love….without relationship to God? Jesus is telling us that love must be the foundation of our obedience and that love is offered through relationship with God. The references to commandments and obedience and love are all pulled together by references to the persons—the community-- of the Holy Trinity—Jesus and the Father, the Father and The Advocate, Jesus and the Advocate---and their relationships to each other. Captured in these few sacred words is the essence of the communion, reciprocity, cooperation, and love of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. This is what we as Christian disciples and community are continually invited to participate in. It is the same Holy Spirit that the Father sent to the disciples in Jesus’ name (Jn 14:26) that invites and draws and teaches us each day. When we accept this very personal invitation from God we are saying yes to relationship with him just as when we accept an invitation to any other human relationship. We open ourselves to the mysterious, all encompassing source and destiny of our lives---the community of love of the Holy Trinity. It is when we allow ourselves to enter and begin to experience the effects of this transforming love that we will find ourselves unable to resist reorienting every aspect of our lives to the Glory of God---and this is when our obedience can begin to be motivated by love. God does not want disciples who keep the law out of obligation or fear. God’s offer to participate in this love of the Holy Trinity is open to us at every moment of our existence.
I am happy to say that approaching the confessional is a very different experience for me today. There is no longer fear or terror. By the unmerited grace and gift of God, I have been able to experience the deep peace and freedom intended with this Sacrament. Accepting the offer of relationship has revealed a God of radical compassion, love, and mercy who desires to dwell deep within every single human heart. Today, let’s reflect on our relationship with God and ask him to reveal to us how our own personal obedience can be, first and foremost, a reflection of our love for him.
O Holy Immortal One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Place within me a burning desire to love you above all!
Reveal to me how I can change my life in order to love you more deeply
And may my obedience be a demonstration of my love for you.
Please grant these graces, with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin,
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen
- Gail Lyman