It is better for you that I go. 

May 11, 2021 3:00 am

“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.” (JN 16: 7)

We know how difficult it is to lose somebody. We, who have lost parent/parents (or spouses), miss them so much. Our Lord knows it perfectly, and He wanted to protect us from this. God is One in Trinity. I see that one more reason for “it is better for you” is in meeting another Person from the Holy Trinity. Jesus showed us the Father, and now we can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

“I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

When the Advocate comes…

May 10, 2021 3:00 am

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.” (JN 15: 26)

Our Lord is preparing to leave us and go back to His Father. But we will be protected. He will ask “the Advocate,” “the Spirit of truth,” to stay with us, to lead us to Heaven. The best way to stay on track is to live in truth, to be honest in my relationships, in my profession, with my relatives, and with my clients. “The Spirit of truth” knows perfectly where to lead us. 

“The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

I have chosen you out of the world.

May 9, 2021 3:00 am

“If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” (JN 15: 19) 

The opposition between “the world” and Our Lord is not the opposition between nature, God’s creation, and its Creator, but between the world, which is ego-centered, and Our Lord, Who invited us to give our lives to be free, creative, and joyful gifts of self. Ego/world doesn’t like to lose its position—to dominate, to be always right and first; love is happy seeing others growing, being better, and bringing more beauty and happiness to others. 

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

May 9, 2021 3:00 am

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (JN 15: 13)

This is the essence of our faith, and this is the core of Our Lord’s teachings: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We dream about “great love,” about fulfilling our lives and making them worthy and accomplished. We can have different vocations – to be spouses or consecrated-but the substance is the same: “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” in supporting, listening, taking care, forgiving, serving, starting, again and again, being gentle and respectful, defending and spending time together. Love has many names but the same spirit.  

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

It was not you who chose me. 

May 7, 2021 3:00 am

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” (JN 15: 16)

Our Lord did something unusual: normally, students chose the master, among many teachers and different schools (like Gamaliel). Jesus changed this, and He was the One, Who chose disciples: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” We, who belong to Our Lord, are chosen, selected, and appointed to go “and bear fruit that will remain.” Our responsibility is to remain in Him and protect our relationship, the only source of our apostolate. 

“I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Remain in his love. 

May 6, 2021 3:00 am

“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (JN 15: 10)

For us, we usually think of the “Commandments” as a duty, rule, assignment, or something we are obliged to do. For Our Lord, commandments are connected with love, respect, and unconditional gift of self. Spouses, bound by the sacraments, are living in union; part of this union is an obligation, rule, and assignment. But most of all, it is a privilege to love, to be connected, and to express our free, creative and joyful gift of self. 

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Become my disciples. 

May 5, 2021 3:00 am

“By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (JN 15: 8)

Being a disciple means that we are connected, we are part of His mission, we are focused on Him, and the results are the results of our connection. It is not about our activism; it is about our connection.

“Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

My peace I give to you.

May 4, 2021 3:00 am

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (JN 14: 27)

We have these words in every Mass. Every day, with every Mass, Our Lord reminds us—do not worry, I am with you, I know the many difficult days you will have, so please accept my peace; do not take what the world wants to give you. True peace comes from Our Lord. 

“Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

No one comes to the Father except through me. 

May 3, 2021 3:00 am

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (JN 14: 6)

Whenever we are connected with Our Lord through prayer, meditation, adoration, or the Holy Mass, we connect with the Father. Jesus never keeps us for himself; He always leads us to the Father. We see this in moms who are happy when children have a good relationship with their fathers, and we see this in fathers when they are happy to see their children in love with their mothers. 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Remain in me, as I remain in you. 

May 2, 2021 3:00 am

“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” (JN 15: 4)

We are so loved by Our Lord, that He wants to remain in us. How often we think about ourselves as weak people, with many limitations, bad reactions, disappointments, with opportunities for angry and distress; yet, Our Lord “remains in us.” It happens in our lives that there are days when we are stronger and lead our spouses; there are days when our spouses are stronger, and we know that we can count on them. Our Lord remains in us to protect us, to lead us, and to support us so that we can bear fruit. 

“Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.” (Gospel Acclamation