Jesus reveals that God will live in those who keep His Commandments. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Obedience so he can keep the Commandments and receive the indwelling God and by seeking the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so he can draw closer to Jesus and perform many Works of Mercy.
Liturgy
5th Week of Easter – Monday – Jn 14:21-26
Commentary
Jesus continues His Farewell Discourse (Jn 13:31-16:33) in Jerusalem during Holy Week, preparing the Apostles for their mission after His departure. Jesus reveals that He and the Father are one, He will return to bring the Apostles to Heaven, He will send the Holy Spirit to guide them, and that they must keep His commandments if they love Him. Jesus again returns to the need for obedience in love.
Jesus reaffirms that His men must keep His word. Throughout His Gospel, Jesus is explicit about keeping God’s commandments (Mt 5:17-19; The 10 Commandments), which He summarized in His call to love God and to love neighbor (Lk 10:27). Jesus promises that those who love Him by keeping His commandments, will be loved by God the Father, and that the Son will reveal Himself to them. Remarkably, Judas (also called Thaddeus – Mt 10:3) somewhat disobediently expresses discontent with Jesus’ plan, and challenges Jesus to show Himself to the world.
Ignoring Thaddeus’ question, Jesus instead reaffirms that men who love Him must keep His word, and that God the Father and the Son will reward those men by dwelling within them (make a home). In a mild rebuke to Thaddeus for his prideful challenge, Jesus emphasizes the need for obedience: God the Father decrees that men can recognize those who do not love Jesus, because they disobediently do not keep the commandments of Jesus. To help men after His departure be obedient, Jesus confirms the existence of the Trinity, promising the Father and the Son will send the Holy Spirit to ensure men can continue to learn about Jesus’ “word” and remember it.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be warned and encouraged by Jesus, the Son of the Father: Divine King, Jesus explicitly issues commands, and confirms consequences for those who keep and do not keep His commandments; perfection of Obedience (a part of Justice), Jesus obediently delivers God the Father’s word to mankind; perfection of Vindication (a part of Justice), Jesus makes it clear that those who keep His word are rewarded, and those who do not keep His word are punished (Jn 15:6); Divine Power and Charity, Jesus uses His power to send the Holy Spirit to help those who love Him be obedient to His word.
Keep the commandments and receive the Indwelling God
Realize: Jesus reveals that men must obediently keep His commandments (The 10 Commandments, the commandment to love) to demonstrate their love for Him and so the Son and the Father will abide in their souls; those who do not keep Jesus’ commandments do not love Him.
Believe: Reflection on your obligation to keep The 10 Commandments (CCC 2052-2082).
Pray: Jesus, Fulfillment of the Commandments, give me the Virtue of Obedience (a part of Justice) so I can keep the commandments of God and receive overflowing blessings as You and the Father and the Holy Spirit dwell in my soul.
Keep Christ’s commandments to receive the Gifts of the Spirit
Realize: Jesus reveals that He will send the Holy Spirit to those who love God by obediently keeping His commandments.
Believe: Reflect upon the powerful Gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1830-1831, 1845).
Pray: Jesus, Person of the Trinity, help me to remain in a state of grace by keeping Your commandments so I can receive the supernatural power of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Fear of the Lord, Piety, Knowledge, Fortitude, Counsel, Understanding and Wisdom) and draw closer to You, grow in holiness, and more fully love others by performing many Works of Mercy.