Jesus said," They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me;

  and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Acts 14:5-18

 A move was made by pagans and Jews,

Together with their leaders, to harm the apostles and to stone them.   But Paul and Barnabas learned of this and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside,   where they continued preaching the Good News.

 Paul and Barnabas spent a fairly long time at Lystra. There was a crippled man in Lystra who had never been able to stand or walk.  One day, as he was listening to the preaching, Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had the faith to be saved.   So he spoke to him in a loud voice, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command you to stand up on your feet!” And the man stood up and began to walk around.

 When the people saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the languageof Lycaonia, “The gods have come to us in human likeness!”   They named Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, since he was the chief speaker.  Even the priest of the Temple of Zeus, which stood outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gate; together with the people, he wanted to offer sacrifice to them.

 When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments to show their indignation and rushed into the crowd, shouting,  “Friends, why are you doing this? We are human beings with the same weakness you have and we are now telling you to turn away from these useless things to the living God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them.

In past generations he allowed each nation to go its own way,   though he never stopped making himself known; for he is continually doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, providing you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.”  Even these words could hardly keep the crowd from offering sacrifice to them.

 

Ps 115 1-2, 3-4, 15-16

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊ 

John 14:21-26

 Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to him.”

 Judas – not the Iscariot – asked ­Jesus, “Lord, how can it be that you will show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?”   Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and make a room in his home.   But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words, and these words that you hear are not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

I told you all this while I was still with you.   From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Love Begets Labor

The Rector of a major seminary, with whom I shared formation responsibilities, would periodically lament, half-jokingly and half-seriously: “I am tired of showing good example to the students. I need a break!” Many of us can identify with his frustration.

It is hard to keep doing good things and be “a model.” But, in truth, this is hard only when love hasn’t swept us off the feet. Anyone in love would know that he or she would go any length to do anything for the beloved. No work is hard for the one in love.

Jesus is spot on when he says if anyone loves him, he or she will truly keep his word, and if one doesn’t, it would be hard for that person to keep the word. Love always effects a spring on our feet. It is love that makes our feet like the hind’s feet and helps us climb and dance upon the mountain heights (cf. Hab3:19).