A reading of the holy Gospel according to Jn 15:26—16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples:“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father,the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father,he will testify to me.And you also testify,because you have been with me from the beginning.“I have told you this so that you may not fall away.They will expel you from the synagogues;in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills youwill think he is offering worship to God.They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.I have told you this so that when their hour comesyou may remember that I told you.”
REFLECTION
"You may remember that I told you"
I am embarrassed to say, but why not, it is the truth. My 5, 7, 8 year old grandchildren taught me how to play chess, though it was on a Super Mario Chess set and I always had to look up who the figures were. The rules did change depending on who was instructing me. It was fun and I remember what they told me.
Jigsaw puzzles for 5+ were very entertaining as we talked while working on the puzzle. The little one would compliment me on my puzzle abilities and I him. And then we would talk while working. Every once in awhile they would interject with a hug as big as a PAPA hug, and say, "I love you".
Bedtime was fun. We read from the Sweet Pickles series, each letter of the alphabet was identified with an animal and their different character's human personalities. My grandaughter and I identified with the Yak-a Yakkity Yak-as we both enjoy talking and hogging up a conversation (apologies to all).
And then reading a children's Bible can be exhausting, because it was hard for them to keep track of Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Moses and the Egyptian army while crossing the Red Sea. But repetition and explaining in context helped them understand and remember.
And then we had a learning hour with the Magnificat for Kids and we reviewed the Mass and the Sunday Gospel readings. And they could ask as many questions as they wanted. They understood and hopefully will remember.
Point of all these stories is that we make an impact on people on what we say, how we say it and they will remember. Jesus was telling and reminding his apostles of what was to become for them a teaching moment --He was leaving but was preparing them and telling them what they needed to remember.
Every person we come in contact with will remember us and our words--if rude, abrupt, gossipy, manipulative, caring, loving and kind. People will remember Jesus in us not so much about how long we pray or even how we pray, but how the love of the Father for the Son, and the Son for the Father is manifested in their mutual love in the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
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