Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 14: 15-21

 

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

How many times when I was a child did my mother tell me, in not so many words, “If you love me, you will listen to what I say.”?  Oh, she never made her love conditional.  On the contrary, whenever I was scolded, or reprimanded or punished she would always make it a point to tell me that she was doing so because she loved me.  That she wanted me to be safe from harm. She wanted me to grow up right and be happy.  She wanted me to become a good person.  The implication was always, “If you listen to what I tell you, it means that you know how much I love you.”

 

Jesus’ words today may sound conditional, but we know they are not.   Jesus’ words are my mother’s words, “I love you so much that I want you to listen to what I say, to obey my commandments, so that you will grow up right, so that you will happy and peaceful, and that your life will be a witness to the Father’s glory.”

 

As a child it may have been enough to listen to mom (and dad) simply because I was told to.  Being a “good boy” certainly saved a lot of hassle.  But knowing that mom and dad’s instructions and admonitions were the product of their love made such a difference.  It led me to something much deeper than mere obedience.  Knowing how much I was loved was the greatest gift I could ever receive from them and has made me the person I am today.  (Oh, I have way too many faults, but, on balance, I’m happy with the person I see in the mirror.) So too with Jesus.

 

I can call myself a good follower of Christ if I obey Jesus’ commandments simply because he told me to.  But in just checking off that box I’d be missing the point.  I would be obeying out of a sense of obligation, not out of love. I would not be fully embracing His love for me, and, as a result, I would not be allowing Him to transform me. 

 

We know the old adage:  My life is Gods gift to me.  What I do with my life is my gift to God.

 

It’s as simple as that.  Obeying Jesus’ commandments is the best way for me to say, “I love you, too, Jesus.”

 

 

“Call Me Ishmael”