Abiding in the Love of Jesus!

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Acts 15:7-21; Jn 15:9-11

Today’s Gospel invites us to abide in the love of Jesus by following his commandments. 

Jesus structures his statements in such a way that they follow a logical progression. 

Jesus assures us that he loves us just as the Father loves him. However, remaining in his love is possible only when we keep his commandments. Inheriting the joy of Christ and attaining fullness in it results from following the commandments that help us remain in his love. 

While we may understand the logical steps, a clarification is needed when the readers sense an aspect of ‘conditional love’ in Jesus’ words because keeping his commandments becomes a precondition to remaining in his love. 

We cannot avoid questions that pop up when we read ‘conditional love’ into the words of Jesus.

Is following Jesus’ commandments the only way to remain in his love? Is there not an unconditional way in which we remain in his love always? Are we not called to carry a heavy burden then? How can we fulfill those commandments flawlessly and remain in his love?

In my view, the Gospel text gives us the needed answer. If we are perplexed about what looks like a call for ‘conditional love’ from Jesus, he makes it clear that ‘I have kept my Father’s commandments [and] to remain in His love.’ In other words, Jesus and his mission become the very answer to all those questions we are confused about. 

As for Jesus, ‘keep my commandments to remain in my love’ is ‘not’ a condition that his disciples must fulfill but an invitation in love seeking their voluntary response. 

We know and understand that what we accept out of love and conviction is not often burdensome. The invitation to obey the commandments of Jesus in order to remain in his love follows the same logic. The commandments of the Lord are indeed burdensome if we read an obligation into them, overlooking the love that such an invitation carries. 

If obedience to Jesus’ commands becomes a spontaneous and generous response, it only becomes a labor of love that completes our joy. 

Jesus invites us to such sweet labor of love, expecting our willing response. 

Let us pray that we may enthusiastically accept Jesus’ invitation to remain in his love.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar