Obedience is the Fruit of Love – May 14 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 14, 2023, on how we know how much we love God by our obedience to Him and to His Church.

Today's Gospel is taken from our Lord's Farewell Discourse in John 14. Jesus teaches that love and obedience go together, as He says in John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?15  This obedience also extends to the Church, as Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 10:16 - "He who hears you, hears me." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?16

Disobedience is a sign of not truly hearing Christ's message, as shown in John 3:36 (He who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?36) and John 9:41 (If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you are saying, we see, so your sin remains - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/9?41). To share in Christ's salvation, one must be obedient to God's will, as Jesus demonstrates in His relationship with the Father. Loving and obeying Christ and His Church is a sign of being guided by the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, as described in John 14:15-17 (If you love me, you will keep my commandments and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?15-17).

The Holy Spirit is our second Advocate, with Jesus being our first (1 John 2:1 - If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/2?1) and Our Lady being the third. All three advocates work together, guiding and supporting us. The Holy Spirit, in particular, guides and protects the Church, as Pope St. Paul VI explained regarding the Second Vatican Council.

Let's ask Our Lady, the Advocate, for the grace to embrace the freedom that comes from fidelity to Her Son and His Church.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sunday 6th Week of Easter - Solemnity
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051423.cfm
1st: act 8:5-8, 14-17
Resp: psa 66:1-7, 16, 20
2nd: 1pe 3:15-18
Gsp: joh 14:15-21

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1846

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XDIqArn7t6M