06/05/2021 Reflection 1164 (Bro. Nigel Furtado OP on John 15:9-11 )

Like us on Facebook at   / dominicanministriesgoa   write to us: [email protected] Website: www.dominicans.in Love is repaid by love alone. Dear brothers and sisters, I’m sure that many of you would have heard of the great lengths to which people go in order to ensure that they enjoy a happy and fulfilling life. The pursuit of happiness has caused many to chase behind the things of the world, such as wealth, power and pleasure. None of these things are able to fully satisfy the heart of man, or give him true and fulfilling joy. However, for us Christians, the way to happiness is an open secret: Our joy comes from knowing that God loves us and by remaining forever in his love. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.” He immediately goes on to clarify that we can abide in his love only by keeping his commandments. At the conclusion of the Gospel, he says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” At this juncture, I’m sure that some would question as to why Jesus asks us to keep his commandments in order to remain in his love. Is the love of God conditional and demanding? Do we need to qualify in order to merit God’s love? Without a doubt, the love of God is unconditional, and is given to us even in our most wretched sinfulness. As we read in Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Love, by its very nature, desires the good and the well being of the other. Therefore, the love of God will not allow us to remain as we are, but will definitely make demands of us for our own good. In other words, the experience of God’s love will cause us to respond to him in love, by keeping his commandments. This is what was meant by St. John of the Cross when he said, “Love is repaid by love alone.” When we love God truly, keeping his commandments will not be burdensome, but rather, we will begin to detest everything that displeases Him. St. Augustine says, “Love, and do what you will… Let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.” The French theologian, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said that “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” When we abide in God’s love, joy is sure to follow. Let us pray for the grace to keep God’s commandments, so that we may abide in his love and experience the abundance of joy that he wants to give us. #dominicanmediamission #DOMINICANFRIARSINDIA