In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
1. Let us open our hearts to receive God’s Word
“If you love me, keep my commands. 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. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (Jn 14, 15-21)
i. If you love me, keep my commands.
It’s easy to take a false start:
systems of control, rules, expectations,
external actions that mask our inner depths.
Jesus, during the night where he expresses the depths of God’s love,
offers another point of departure:
recognize your being loved,
let that draw out your own ability to love,
express it in concrete ways flowing from your inner depths (and those of God).
Reflect:
Stay with the love you have received from God.
ii. 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.
During the night in which he was betrayed by those in his inner circle
the night when lies became the tools of the powerful
to strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep
and everyone ends up in isolation
Jesus prays to the eternal Father
to give us another advocate
that no one ends up alone
that Truth may not be buried
that community may rise again!
Reflect:
In our contemporary context, what’s your prayer to the Father?
iii. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
In the dark night of plotting the assassination of the innocent
shines brightly the heart of the victim
who chose to take responsibility for the other,
showing care and compassion
empowering and guiding
living and giving life;
He sets new flames alight
ready to take responsibility, care, be compassionate
illuminate the dark night!
I will not leave you orphans.
Reflect:
Stay with the words: “I live and you also will live”.
Our Father
Thanks to Fr Jimmy Bonnici for this reflection