Faith Daily | 3 May 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER FIVE APBA p513

Saving God,

who called your Church to witness

that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:

help us so to proclaim the good news of your love,

that all who hear it may be reconciled to you;

through him who died for us and rose again

and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: John 14: 21-26

21They 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.’ 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Kathy Allen

A favourite hymn begins, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.” In this passage Jesus seeks to offer blessed assurance to His disciplines such that they will always be with Him and in Him as long as they willingly obey and come to the Father. The disciples are frightened and worried about losing His physical presence. Jesus addresses the all-encompassing power of God’s love and His unity with God the Father. Jesus explains that God the Father has spoken through his Son to the disciples. He will continue to do so when Jesus is no longer physically present. Together they will provide a safe haven for believers. To love and obey Jesus is to love and obey God. This love is enhanced by the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a teacher of God’s truths and is the memory keeper of all Jesus has said. Jesus speaks plainly and without parable to his disciples.

In modern parlance, today we still wonder how to access God’s message. As grown-ups, as adults, we sometimes think that discipline is only for children and for many there is still the unhappy idea that discipline is punitive and punishing. However, obedience can be liberating, freeing us from stress and worry. It brings structure out of chaos. The very fact of loving Jesus helps us keep His commandments, hold them in our hearts and act upon them. The message of God’s love has not altered. Jesus reassures His disciples and us with a message of unconditional love. Really, It is how you look at it. You work to obey God’s commandments, not because you have to but because you want to. This makes all the difference.

FINAL PRAYER: APBA p515

O God,

you have prepared for those who love you

joys beyond our understanding:

pour into our hearts such love for you,

that, loving you above all else,

we may obtain your promises

that exceed all we can desire;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen