Weekly Gospel Reflection

This week's Gospel, written by John, is a powerful passage about the importance of love, obedience, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells His disciples, "If you love me, keep my commands." When Jesus speaks of "commands," we should not understand this as a disciplinarian demanding compliance from his followers. Indeed, Jesus is deliberate in moving from the prescriptiveness of the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament to a relationship of Father and child. Rather, His commands are simplified to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." As followers of Christ, obedience is to love our neighbours unconditionally.

Jesus goes on to say, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth." Here, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples and to guide them in their walk with God. The Holy Spirit is always with us, helping us to understand God's mission and guide us in our daily lives.

As Catholics, we believe that the Holy Spirit gives us the gifts and fruits to help us live out God's mission. The 5/6 A class this week has been exploring the real-life applications of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. This Friday, they have dedicated their Mass to reflect on the qualities that make a good friend. Love, kindness, and compassion are essential ingredients in any friendship and the qualities that Jesus embodied, as shown through His constant loyalty with the disciples. We can show Jesus' love and kindness to those who are hurting, be patient with those who are difficult, and forgive those who have wronged us.

This week, we are called to practise what we preach and be good friends to one another. Perhaps this weekend, you can catch up with a friend that you haven't seen in a while, do a favour for a friend, or put some time aside this week to reflect on how you live God's mission. Or put simply, before we do something, ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?"

Heavenly Father, as we come before You today, we ask for Your grace and guidance in our lives. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who teaches us the way of love and obedience. 

Lord, we ask for the strength and courage to love one another as Jesus has loved us, unconditionally and sacrificially. Help us to see beyond our differences and embrace one another in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. May we be known for our love, kindness, and compassion towards all those we meet.

Further, we ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will be with us always and guide us in our journey of faith. May the Spirit of truth fill our hearts and minds, and lead us closer to You each day.

St John Vianney, 

Pray for us.