Homily on John 14:15–16, 23b–26 — Pentecost Sunday

Homily on John 14:15 -16, 23 b–26 — Pentecost Sunday: If you love me… keep my commandments.”

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

A young boy, living in a village, used to visit his grandmother every evening. He would sit by her side and talk about so many things under heaven and make her laugh. One day, the grandmother asked him with curiosity, “My dear son, why do you come every day to meet me while my own children have forgotten me?” The boy embraced the grandmother and said, “It is simply because I love you so deeply.” She took his hand and quietly said, “Then, it is that love which keeps me alive.”

Yes dear friends, love gives us strength, sometimes even more than food or medicine. And it is about love, and its outcome is the theme of today’s Gospel. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will stay with you forever.”  Yes, the advocate whom Jesus promises is the Holy Spirit.  But how do we receive this Advocate? What must we do?

Jesus makes it clear. “If you love me… keep my commandments.” That’s the door; Love and obedience. Not forced obedience or empty love. But a love that shows itself in action; a love that trusts, a love that listens.

We all want the Holy Spirit and we all want strength, guidance and fire in our hearts. But the Spirit does not come by magic. The Spirit comes where there is love, where there is obedience. Where there is a heart that says, “Yes, Lord, I will walk according to your way.”

Jesus doesn’t say, “If you are perfect, I will give you the Spirit.” He says, “If you love me.” That’s a hope for all of us. Even if we are weak, even if we fail, if we have a mind to love Him and try to keep His word, He will ask the Father to send us the Advocate.

Let us come to the second part of the Gospel, what Jesus says here more interesting and touching. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Think of that God wants to make His home in us. Not just visit, not just pass by but live with us, stay with us. Like the boy who stayed with his grandmother.

Look at the apostles before Pentecost, they were afraid and locked in a room, however, after the Holy Spirit came, they opened the doors. They stood in the streets and spoke without fear. It was not because they suddenly became strong. It was because the Advocate came and stayed with them.

The same Spirit is waiting to come to us, not only today, not only during a feast, but every day. So let us ask ourselves: Are we ready to love Jesus truly? Are we ready to keep His commandments? If yes, the Advocate will come. Not maybe, He will come.

And when the Holy Spirit comes, the Holy Spirit will stay, teach, remind, guide, strengthen, and fill us with the fire of God’s love.

Come, Holy Spirit. Make your home in my heart.

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God Bless…