Sixth Sunday of Easter
Also Read: Mass Readings for 14 May 2023 Mass Reading Reflection for 14 May 2023
Gospel: John 14: 15-21
“I will not leave you orphans”; it’s a promise we shall count on. It’s a promise often forgotten. And the enemies wish we forget it fast. We are regularly tempted to believe we are orphans. Many an enemy sneak in as benevolent custodians. Many fail to assert, ‘but, we are not orphans.’ We need to remind ourselves daily that we are not orphans.
An orphan often has to pretend, we don’t have to. We can be ourselves in the presence of the responsible parent, God. If you are not clean, don’t pretend otherwise, Jesus is ready to make you clean. If you feel weak, He is there to strengthen you. If you feel lonely, He is there to give you company. If you are down, He is here with his extended arms to help you stand up.
The only binding chord between He and us is love. There is no other condition. With Jesus, love precedes all other commands. He did not say, “If you obey the commandments, I shall love you!” Instead, He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Obedience to His commandments is the proof of our love. When love is absent commandments are a burden. If the commandments are felt heavy, it implies the love has vanished. If you feel the ten commandments or the commandments of the church are burdensome, it indicates that your love for Jesus and his church is fragile.
Don’t panic even then. He has a counselor for you. The counselor shall strengthen you. He is here to set your heart on fire. Receive the Spirit with openness, let Him set your heart on the fire of love and trust. This great season of Easter is to set our hearts on fire.
Easter is the guarantee of a great promise. Pentecost is the fulfillment of the promise. We are in that season of the year celebrating both these great feasts. We need to celebrate grand these feasts because we are not orphans. As assured, Jesus lives, and as promised the Paraclete – the Holy Spirit is given. And it was not just for a generation or for a short duration. The promise and its fulfillment are equally valid even to this day and will be valid until the end of time.
When the going is getting tough, let us remind ourselves repeatedly that we are not orphans. Let us never behave as if we are orphans. The rules or the commandments are there because we are sons and daughters of Divine love.
Always stay close to that Divine love. Live Easter and Pentecost every day of our lives.
Amen.