Monday 5th Week of Easter

Gospel – John 14:21-26

Simple Gifts

Dear Dad

“Dear Dad, I love going to school with you.  It’s a blast!  You are the best dad, best teacher and best friend in the world.  I’m glad we had class together and got to see what everyone else was walking about – how wonderful you are.  I Love You, Jaime”

My daughter wrote that note to me back when she was a Sophomore in high school.  And I have kept it safely in my wallet ever since.  Needless to say, the notepaper is barely holding together but that makes no difference to me.  No matter the condition of the paper, the relationship it speaks of continues today.  It is a constant reminder of a love between father and daughter, a love that has endured and flourished over the years. 

It is also a reminder that you don’t always need grand gestures or expensive presents to express your love for someone.  Sometimes, many times, it’s the little things that matter – an unexpected letter, that pat of encouragement on the back, cooking dinner when you know your spouse had a rough day, or maybe just sitting outside and snuggling in quiet peace.

Jesus makes it quite clear in today’s Gospel!  “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

So my question is this:  how do you show your love for Jesus?  Is it all grand gestures?  Is it something simple and really heartfelt?  Is it just words?  is it in a gentle touch or a comforting word?  Is it how you treat others?  Is it how you observe and follow His commandments?  How do you let Jesus know that you love Him? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Sunday – 13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time   revisited Gospel – Matthew 10:37-42 The Cost/Rewards of Discipleship Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem I’m holding in my hand a simple piece of paper, barely bigger than an index card.   It’s a mini-golf scorecard and it’s 47 years old.   At the time, the game itself probably cost only about $6.   Certainly a lot less than you would pay today.   So the cost today doesn’t seem like much.   But for me all that time ago, it was a wealth of money.   So it cost me a lot.   But the rewards of the card?   Well, that is priceless.   This was one of the first dates Ginger and I went on.   And who would have guessed how that would turn out?   All the memories we have shared, painful and joyful.   All the times we have shared together and the people who have touched our lives!   Priceless! Cost and reward!   Two vastly different concepts but they play a key role in all of today’s readings.   In the first reading, a rich woman goes out of her way t
Read more
Image
  14 th Sunday in Ordinary Time   revisited Gospel – Matthew 11:25-30 The “Little Ones” Open Market, Jerusalem There’s a story about a rather eccentric teacher who was always looking for creative ways to test (torture) his students.   Sometimes it was crazy project and sometimes it was a wacky exam that tested not just their knowledge but also their experience. So one day he hands out a test, typical normal test, Q/A, except this was the last question.   What’s the name of the school janitor?   One of his students looked at the question and thought – I know he’s short, wears glasses and has light brown hair but how in the world would I know his name?   So he left it blank and turned in his paper. When class was over, he went up to the teacher and asked whether that last question would count in the test grade.   Absolutely, said the teacher.   Throughout your whole life, you will find that every person you cross paths with is important, significant.   They deserve you
Read more
Image
  16 th Sunday in Ordinary Time   revisited Gospel – Matthew 13:24-30 Be Patient, My Child Tied Up in Knots! Many years ago, I remember one summer when it was time for our daughter Jaime to learn how to ride a bicycle.   So I took off the training wheels, she climbed onto the bike and proceeded to take off.   I followed close behind, holding onto the back bumper, trying to keep the bike upright and trying to make sure she didn’t fall.   It was exhausting for both of us.   I thought I was being a good dad by doing everything I could to keep her from falling.   But it didn’t work.   We were both getting frustrated.   Finally, she had had enough and she banished me to sit on the front porch while she worked it out on her own.   It took time and it took a lot of patience, something neither one of us had much of at the start of the process. I was getting impatient with the process and she was getting impatient with me.   Patience was in short supply.   But in the end, patience w
Read more