A reading according to the holy Gospel according Jn 15:9-11
Jesus said to his disciples:“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.Remain in my love.If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,just as I have kept my Father’s commandmentsand remain in his love.“I have told you this so thatmy joy might be in you andyour joy might be complete.”
REFLECTION
"If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love"
Questions about our meaningful existence affect us in every walk and season of our lives. How we thought and acted when 20 is so different in our fifties, and so forth. But most importantly am I whom I was meant to be?
Amidst these questions and thoughts the good Lord has allowed me to undo my mistakes, affirm my beliefs and to live a more spiritual life. And how did this come about? From a firm understanding that Jesus loves me as much as the Father loves Him. And the simplicity of life is to use our talents as given to us by God and to keep His commandments in order to remain in His love.
Guiding and loving grandchildren is a golden "second chance" opportunity. I can speak to them of the love of Jesus Christ for us, the necessity to be kind and generous to one another, to do that which is most pleasing to Jesus Christ and not to refuse Him anything and to seek to please Jesus Christ in all their actions.
Their minds are so willing to be taught and learn.
Just yesterday, one child was upset and damaged her brother's toy. In my mother days, that child would have been punished without much explanation as to what they did wrong to hurt Jesus. I had my peace when the crying and commotion began. And I spoke with the seven year old explaining to her why what she did was wrong: not only to her brother but toward Jesus. After speaking to her about being sorrowful for what she did, she had to make reparations for the broken toy. And I allowed her to think about how she could make reparations to her brother and God.
She came up with a solution to fix the toy and it worked. In the interim, his older brother gave a toy similar to the broken one to his brother. In time, they were all joyful and happy and I thank God for the opportunity to show them what love is as He has shown to us.
