First Reading (Acts 14,5-18)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, in Iconium, Pagans and Jews, led by their leaders, were willing to outrage and stone Paul and Barnabas. Upon learning of this, Paul and Barnabas fled and went to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and their surroundings. Then they began to announce the Gospel.
In Lystra there was a man paralyzed in his legs, who was lame from birth and had never been able to walk. He listened to Paul’s speech. And he, fixing his gaze on him and noticing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice: “Stand up straight on your feet.” The man jumped up and started walking.
Seeing what Paul had just done, the crowd exclaimed in Lycaonic dialect: “The gods have come down among us in the form of people!” They called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury, because it was Paul who spoke. The priests of Jupiter, whose temple was opposite the city, brought bulls adorned with garlands to the door and wanted to offer sacrifices with the crowd.
Upon learning of this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes and went into the crowd, shouting, “Men, what are you doing? We are also mortal men like you, and we are telling you that you must leave these useless idols for yourselves. convert to the living God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in them. In past generations, God allowed all nations to follow their own path.
However, he did not fail to bear witness to himself through his benefits, sending rains and harvests from heaven, giving food and gladdening your hearts.” And so speaking, with great difficulty, they managed to get the crowd to give up offering them a sacrifice. .
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 14,21-26)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has accepted my commandments and observes them, he loves me. Now, whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him”. Judas – not Iscariot – said to him: “Lord, how can it be explained that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me will not keep my word. And the word you hear will not it is mine, but the Father’s who sent me. This is what I told you while I was with you. But the Defender, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have told you. .
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all on this blessed day. It is with great joy that we gather today to reflect on the sacred scriptures and seek divine guidance for our lives. Let me begin our homily with a captivating hook that connects us directly to our daily experiences.
Imagine yourself walking through a busy city, surrounded by hurried and distracted people. You watch the tired and worried expressions on their faces. For a moment, you feel out of place, wondering, “What’s missing from this scene? What are these people looking for?”
Dear ones, the answer is in the words of the gospel proclaimed today. Jesus tells us: “Whoever welcomes my commandments and observes them, he loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14, 21). What a powerful message! Amid the chaos and worries of everyday life, Jesus calls us to love Him and keep His commandments. But how can we do this? How can we experience the manifestation of God’s love in our lives?
Let us remember the story of the apostles Paul and Barnabas, narrated in the Acts of the Apostles. They were in Lystra, preaching the Gospel with great fervor, when a man lame from birth was healed through Paul. The people, amazed, began to worship Paul and Barnabas as if they were gods. But the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, interrupted this worship, saying: “Men, why do you do this? We also are men like you, and we announce to you that you must abandon these vain things in order to turn to the living God” (Acts 14, 15).
This passage teaches us a valuable lesson. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to direct worship and devotion to the living God. We often find ourselves seeking satisfaction and meaning in the vain things of this world: riches, power, success, temporary pleasures. However, these things cannot fill the void in our hearts. Only God can do it.
Dear ones, we need to abandon these false illusions and convert our hearts to the living God. When we welcome Jesus’ commandments into our lives, we are making space for God to act in us and through us. Loving God and keeping his commandments is not an easy task, but it is the key to experiencing the fullness of divine love.
Imagine a healthy, leafy tree. Its roots are deeply embedded in the fertile soil, absorbing the nutrients necessary for its growth. Likewise, when we love God and keep his commandments, our lives are like this tree, supported by divine grace. Just as the tree bears generous fruit, we will also bear fruit in our lives: fruits of love, compassion, forgiveness, humility and generosity.
But how can we welcome Jesus’ commandments into our daily lives? Allow me to share a story to illustrate this. There was a man who lived in a remote village. He was known for his kindness and wisdom. One day, a person from the village asked: “Master, how can I love God and keep his commandments in my life?”
The man smiled and replied, “My friend, the answer lies in your daily actions. When you come across someone in trouble, reach out and help. When you come across someone who is lonely, offer them company. When you see someone who is hurt, take care of them. your wounds. When faced with injustice, defend the oppressed. And when you feel anger or resentment, forgive.”
This story reminds us that loving God and keeping his commandments is intrinsically linked to loving our neighbors. It is through our daily actions and relationships that we express our love for God. Every interaction, every gesture of kindness, every word of encouragement is an opportunity to manifest divine love in our lives.
Dear brothers and sisters, we cannot neglect the importance of these words of Jesus. He has promised us that if we love Him and keep His commandments, He will manifest Himself to us. What an incredible promise! When we open our hearts and lives to God’s love, we are transformed. His presence becomes tangible in our daily lives, guiding us, strengthening us and giving us hope.
Sometimes it can be difficult to stay true to that promise. We may face challenges, temptations, and doubts that take us away from God’s path. But remember that we are not alone. Jesus assures us that the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Defender, who will teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus told us (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is our strength, our guide and our comforter. He enables us to live according to the teachings of Jesus and to experience the fullness of his love.
Dear brothers and sisters, I leave you with this challenge: reflect on how the lessons from these biblical passages apply to your daily lives. Ask yourself: Am I loving God and keeping his commandments in my actions and relationships? Am I making space for the manifestation of divine love in my life?
May we be like leafy trees, rooted in God’s love, bearing fruits of kindness and generosity. May we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every step we take. And that in doing so, we can truly experience the manifestation of God’s love in our lives.
At this time, I would like to invite you to have a moment of silence and reflection. Open your hearts to divine guidance and offer your lives to God. May He strengthen us and enable us to live according to His commandments.
Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for your word and for the teachings we find in the Holy Scriptures. Give us the grace to love you and keep your commandments in our daily lives. Enable us to be witnesses of your love and to show it to everyone we meet. Give us the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we can live according to your will and experience the fullness of your love. We ask this of you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
May divine grace, love and hope be with you all. Move forward, loving God and keeping his commandments, and you will experience the manifestation of divine love in your lives. God bless you!
