MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 14:21-26) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.” (Jn 14:23)

FIRST READING - Acts 14:5-18

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

There was an attempt in Iconium

by both the Gentiles and the Jews,

together with their leaders,

to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.

They realized it,

and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe

and to the surrounding countryside,

where they continued to proclaim the Good News.

At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,

who had never walked.

He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,

saw that he had the faith to be healed,

and called out in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet."

He jumped up and began to walk about.

When the crowds saw what Paul had done,

they cried out in Lycaonian,

"The gods have come down to us in human form."

They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes,"

because he was the chief speaker.

And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,

brought oxen and garlands to the gates,

for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments

when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,

"Men, why are you doing this?

We are of the same nature as you, human beings.

We proclaim to you good news

that you should turn from these idols to the living God,

who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.

In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;

yet, in bestowing his goodness,

he did not leave himself without witness,

for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,

and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts."

Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds

from offering sacrifice to them.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 14:21-26

From the Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Whoever has my commandments and observes them

is the one who loves me.

Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,

and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,

"Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us

and not to the world?"

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Whoever loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;

yet the word you hear is not mine

but that of the Father who sent me.

"I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit

whom the Father will send in my name--

he will teach you everything

and remind you of all that I told you."

MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 14:21-26)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Jesus said to His disciples, as well as to all humanity:

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

The commandments that God teaches are:

Love God above all things, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Obey God in all things, just as Jesus Christ obeyed God the Father, even to the point of accepting death on a cross. It was through that obedience that He conquered death and defeated Satan.

God always loves people and desires to save them. He shows humanity the way to eternal life, which is to obey the commandments that Jesus Christ taught. The commandments Jesus taught were not His own, but came from God the Father. Whatever God the Father commanded Jesus to say, Jesus obeyed and did exactly as God the Father commanded. Whatever God the Father does, God the Son does likewise. God the Father and God the Son are one.

All creatures in the world were created by God the Father. All human beings are children of God—He does not distinguish between good and bad people. As long as humans are still on their earthly pilgrimage, His teachings are the Living Words for all. Those who want to remain in God will keep His teachings, and God will remain in them.

In today’s Word of God, God also reveals to humanity the mystery of the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, working together to save mankind. Before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Advocate—who would accompany humanity. This is the era of the Holy Spirit. He helps people understand more about God’s saving plan and the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

The Holy Spirit reveals that there is only one God. The revelation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit allows us to distinguish each Person by name and role, and to recognize the different ways God acts to save humanity. Yet these three Persons are never separate gods. The power of God is manifest everywhere; therefore, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one God.

Whoever remains in God the Father and lives by the Spirit of the Holy Spirit also remains in the love of the Holy Trinity. That person will be saved by God and will be rewarded with the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen.