SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 14:7-14 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"The words that I speak to you, I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works." (Jn 14:10)

READING OF THE DAY

First reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 9:26-31

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples,

but they were all afraid of him,

not believing that he was a disciple.

Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles,

and he reported to them how he had seen the Lord,

and that he had spoken to him,

and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem,

and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.

He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists,

but they tried to kill him.

And when the brothers learned of this,

they took him down to Caesarea

and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.

It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,

and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

Second reading from the First Letter of John

1 Jn 3:18-24

Children, let us love not in word or speech

but in deed and truth.

Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth

and reassure our hearts before him

in whatever our hearts condemn,

for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,

we have confidence in God

and receive from him whatever we ask,

because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And his commandment is this:

we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,

and love one another just as he commanded us.

Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,

and the way we know that he remains in us

is from the Spirit he gave us.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 14:7-14

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In God's Word today, God wants to tell all humanity that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God the Father. It was out of love that He sent His only Son to earth to accompany humans, to love, to sacrifice, to die, and to atone for humanity's sins. Therefore, everything the Son does on this earth is to glorify God the Father. He does not do anything according to His own will. All the words, actions, and thoughts of Jesus Christ are directed to God the Father.

Through the Word of God today, the only Son of God the Father reveals to humanity the love of God the Father, a God the Father who loves humanity infinitely. God calls all mankind to run to God the Father of love to receive strength and eternal life. Therefore, if we want to achieve the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven, we should listen to the words of God's only Son, Jesus Christ, towards God the Father. To do that, we must also give up ourselves, give up our selfish "ego", and give up hate to put on the love that God has engraved in each person's soul. This love will have to go through difficulties, hardships, and challenges, as Jesus Christ calls those who come to God the Father should listen to His instructions, that is, listen through Jesus Christ, the only Son of God the Father. Without His love bestowed upon humanity, humans would have to walk in the darkness of many sins. There is no love as great as the love of God the Father.

Today's Word of God, Jesus Christ instructs His disciples to believe God the Father is in Him, and He is in God the Father. Everything He does glorifies God's holy name.

Through the love of His only Son for God the Father, He also calls on all humanity, His children, to look at the sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ for God the Father and be faithful to Him until our last breath. Be faithful by listening and obeying the will of God the Father, and doing everything to glorify God's name as Jesus Christ did.

The Word of God also teaches humanity that:

- When anyone believes in the only Son of God who came to earth to become a human being and follows His instructions, He will grant eternal life.

- The commanded Word of God will be fulfilled on those who ask Jesus Christ with all absolute trust in God the Father. He will grant grace to all who come to call on His holy name.

- Run to Jesus Christ so that He can give you more strength so that He can guide you on the path to life in the Kingdom of Heaven. That is the goal that humans need to aim for. Especially through Jesus Christ, He will lead that soul back to God the Father. As Jesus Christ taught: "Whoever comes to Me will have eternal life."

God's promise is a true promise. He will give blessings to all those who believe absolutely in the words of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who came to earth to become a human being, to sacrifice, die, and rise again to save all humanity.

Thanks be to God. Amen.