Reflections on Scripture | Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
""Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.""
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
""Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?""
Jesus answered and said to him,
""Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

""I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name--
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”"

Reflection

It seems clear that John is sharing with us his insight that this work that we have, this task of learning how to live on this planet is a work that we learn through the stories, and the mysteries that we read in Scripture. But that's never been enough. We take all these images and all these words and we hold them in our heart and then we seek the wisdom that's hidden in them.

And that's the work of the Holy Spirit. And it's so interesting what Jesus is really saying is that once you hear these words and ponder them, and many of them seem contradictory, there is something dwelling in you, God's presence, the Holy Spirit, He, She will be the one who brings you to the deepest of understandings that changes your life.

Closing prayer

Father, open us to the gifts of the Spirit, your presence living within us. Help us to know that our work is to ponder and to wonder and to seek a truth that is revealed personally to us through your presence in us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

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Kyle Cross