SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

‘If you love me your will keep my commandments’ Gospel: St John 14:15-21
Love of God and love of neighbour summarises the Ten Commandments. Today’s Gospel, like last Sunday’s, is part of St John’s account of the events of Holy Thursday night. In preparing the disciples for His departure, Jesus was uncompromising in stating the importance of keeping the Commandments.

At the start of His public ministry, Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount presented the people with His beatitudes, which brought a deeper understanding and meaning to the Ten Commandments . They address the attitudes necessary for us to live out the teachings of the Commandments and they mirror the lifestyle of Jesus and the example shown by Him. Keeping the Commandments (and the Beatitudes) requires an internal desire, willingness and commitment on our part to love and serve God and our neighbour, in a way that reflects the teachings and example of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit sustained, strengthened and guided Jesus in times of temptation. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the continued presence of Jesus within us. We too are sustained, strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit in our struggles with discipleship and in positively living the virtues of the Commandments.