In today’s gospel (John 14:15-21) we hear a continuation of Jesus’ “farewell discourse”.
Last Sunday (John14:1- 12) we heard Jesus telling his disciples, and all of us, how much he desires that we come to know him as he knows us. Jesus emphasizes that knowing Him is knowing God, knowing His truth is knowing God’s truth, and knowing His way is knowing God’s way.
In today’s gospel passage Jesus takes this one step further. Jesus expresses his desire that we not only come to know Him as he knows us, but that we come to love Him just as He loves us. And of course, Jesus is emphasizing that to love Him is to love God. It seems that Jesus is telling us that it is only by allowing ourselves to be immersed in this mutual relationship of love, that we can most fully live the life that God desires for us. Jesus is telling us that it is our love of God, and God’s love for us, that compels us to live our lives in accordance with God’s law of love. Jesus is telling us that it is our love of God, and God’s love for us, that moves us to do just what He came to do – to serve the needs of others out of love.
And Jesus also assures us that we are not on our own as we strive to live this life of love. Jesus reminds us that it is His own Spirit implanted in our souls that empowers and fortifies us as we journey through this world. Jesus reminds us that it is His Spirit dwelling in us that allows us to come to know and love God more and more each day, and to turn our lives over to God. Jesus reminds us that it is His Spirit alive in us that inspires us to love and serve others.
So as the great feast of Pentecost approaches, we go forward, with our hearts and minds open to the Spirit. We go forward with a prayer on our lips – “Come Holy Spirit into our hearts and minds. Help us come to know and love God more and more each day. Instill in us the desire to love and serve others out of our love for God”.