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Let us reflect today on what separates us from one another….

Is it only our worldliness and desires? The sins and temptations we give in to? Our unspoken thoughts, words of spiritual superiority and spiritual arrogance? Where we feel we are more knowledgeable, more holy, more industrious than others in matters of faith and morals? When we refuse to participate in any Church related, Ministry related, activities or outreach programs because we see no personal benefit, recognition or compensation for our hard working efforts and sacrifice? When we put self before others? When we schedule only personal and family time and neglect community time? Who stands to gain from our separation? Our disunity? It is not the fallen one?

Jesus today and everyday wants us to be united, ONE united together in Him. He loves and wants to protect us like a loving shepherd who watches closely after his sheep. And because we who choose to live through, with and in Him and NOT in the World, we live separate from the World who hates us.  Jesus gives of Himself to us in His Word, His truth, His love, His body and blood in the Eucharist to strengthen and nourish us.  So that together with Him we can work together in unity to build the kingdom of our loving Father in heaven.  Amen

GOSPEL John 17:11b–19

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:“Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

I don’t know why?! Even though I keep telling myself that I want to change and to follow Christ, I still find myself falling into temptation, I seem to have anger issues. Or I am constantly depressed and overwhelmed. Why is it so difficult to overcome sin? Why do I not make any headway in my prayer life? Why do I see others who seem to be constantly at peace and happy? How do they have that? Is it just a facade?

Our ever loving God tell us today through Jesus our Lord and saviour, that the key to complete peace and joy is to Remain in His love.  How? Simply to keep His commandments. What are His commandments? To love God with our all and to love one another as He has loved us. In other words to love one another with His divine love. Love which is not just an emotion, a love which is all encompassing, a love rooted in sacrifice and service, a love given freely with no expectation of return, a love which builds above and beyond, a love which comes from loving God with all our heart, all our minds and all our soul.

If we love the way we are called to do, how can we then not bear fruit? How can we not share His love for us with others? So that they too will have complete peace and joy in their lives? How can we not bear witness to so great a love? The love of our God, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?

What other belief system? What other faith? What other religion?  Has so loving a God? One loving, divine omniscient and all power being that promises that if we truly follow Him and remain in His love, we are no longer servants/slaves but friends of His?

With God as our friend, what have we to fear? To worry about? Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

GOSPEL John 15:9–17

Jesus said to his disciples:“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 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. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 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.”