Corpus Christi Blog

Keeping His Word by Him Dwelling in Us

05-26-2019HomiliesFr. Chad King

Two weeks ago, in the Gospel John chapter 10, we heard Jesus use the analogy of sheep and Shepherd, saying that His sheep hear his voice. And last week Deacon preached about what it means to love one another as God loves us, which Christ commands us to do. Today, the two ideas are tied together for us. I remind you of that as our 1st verse in today’s Gospel summarized the two points: “Jesus said to his disciples, whoever loves me will keep my word”. Those who really love Jesus will ‘keep his word’. What does it mean to keep his word? To keep his word means to listen and obey all that He has said. Of course, to listen and obey what Jesus says, we first have to hear his voice. Our Gospel goes on to say that the Holy Spirit “will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you”. Wow, I know that we all desire to know and love Jesus, so let’s take a moment and evaluate ourselves and let the Holy Spirit remind us all that Jesus said. Do you know all that Jesus said? Do you read the Scriptures regularly? Or do you only hear what is proclaimed if you come to Mass on Sundays? Are you keeping his teaching close to your heart, by remembering what was said minutes, hours, days later? Again, if we really love Jesus not only will we know what He said but also strive constantly do what He commanded.

I thought of a few commands Jesus said, of course these were some just on the top of my head, hopefully you can think of more.  But if we are honest with ourselves, and reflect on how well we are keeping his word, what grade would we give ourselves?  Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength”- how are you and I doing with that- are we at least striving every day to love Him more and more completely?  Likewise, Jesus says to: “Forgive one another, Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you”.  Are you still holding grudges toward your co-worker, your neighbor, are you able to love and pray for those who are against you in some way?  When you get angry or frustrated about what another says or if their views differ from yours, do you strive to love and pray for them?  Do you ask to see how God sees them, to love as He loves them?  God tells us to “give generously to the widow, the orphan, and the poor”.  How do you give to others in need, do you just give a dollar or two, or do you have a generous giving heart?  What is your attitude in giving, do you resent it when you are asked to give to a worthy cause?  Do you have the believe that what you have, your money, your resources are not yours strictly for your needs and desires, but are also for the good of others?  What grade would you give in your tithing?  Likewise, Jesus says, “he who looks upon another with lust commits adultery”.  How are you doing with that?  Do you look upon another with wandering eyes, a curious mind, or a desirous heart?  Do you look at pornography of some form?  Do you see other people, even your own spouse, as there to meet your needs and desires?  We are not loving Jesus or loving the other if we do. 

Jesus’ final command to his disciples, Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”.  Are you only concerned in trying to follow Jesus’ commands yourself, without a real active concern in helping others do the same?  Do you really believe that knowing and loving God is by far most important in a person’s life, every person’s life?  Do you evangelize- that is do you share with others the good news of knowing, loving, and following Jesus with your life?  Or are you afraid to question another’s viewpoint, and so in the name of tolerance, are complicit in another’s act of sinfulness without saying anything, praying for them at the least?  Are you really wanting the ultimate good for another, or are you letting them settle for an inferior good or a counterfeit?

If you are like me and struggle in one or more of these commands, then it is time to ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you could change your ways and grow in these areas.  Ask our Mother Mary to teach you how to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and how to do what God calls you to do.  But most importantly, if you feel somewhat overwhelmed thinking you have so far to go to keep God’s word and living up to His high expectation, let me remind you of a couple other of Jesus’ commands:  “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”.  “Come away by yourself and rest a while”. 

My brothers and sisters, listening to and obeying God’s word is not solely something we have to find a way to do on our own.  Remember that it is by God’s grace that we can do anything at all, it is He who encourages, He who prompts and teaches, and He strengthens us.  So, the most important thing we can do is to come to Him every day, tell Him that we want to do what He asks us to do that day. That in itself is loving God.  And so, listen to what Jesus in our Gospel promises to those of us who are truly striving to love Him and keep his word, “my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him”.  If we are striving to love God and do His will, then God will dwell, God will literally tabernacle in us. What a gift, what a promise, what a consolation. Therefore, what if we were to come to daily Mass if at all possible and let Him literally tabernacle in us, or at least spend time in prayer every morning telling God that we want to do His will that day.  It is there in the humility and surrendering our weaknesses and shortcomings; it is in being quiet with God that He prepares and strengthens us for what He is calling us to do that day.  That is how we can do as St. Paul learned, “I myself no longer live but it is Christ who lives in me”. 

Imagine if we would start our every day that way in silent prayer abiding in God and He in us, soaking in his love and peace.  Think about when later that day we face that person that annoys us, or that situation we don’t know what to do about, what if we were then to recall that mornings grace and peace and ask Him to love that person through us, to know what His will for us in that situation.  Think about how much different and better our lives would be if we were to do that every day.  Let us ask our Lord now, to be ever present in our lives.  Let’s ask for the grace to be reminded and encouraged by the Holy Spirit to make abiding in Him a daily habit- for that is the only way we can truly love God and keep his word.   Remember, it is by us daily asking and letting God dwell in us that we are purified and made ready to then abide and dwell in God perfected in Heaven.

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