A Homily on the Lord’s Word: “If you #love #Me, #keep My #commandments.”
(#John 14 : 15)
Beloved children of the Most-High, let us lift the eyes of our heart to the living Christ and drink deeply from the spring of His own lips: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” This single sentence is a compass for every soul, a plumb-line by which heaven measures earth, a lamp that exposes all false devotion. Hear, then, a faithful exposition of the points entrusted to us, set forth with the fervor of the golden-mouthed Chrysostom.
1. Love Proved by Deeds, Not Words
True love for God is no vapor of sentiment but a house built with the stones of good works and Christian morality. A tongue that shouts “I love You” yet hands that transgress His law proclaim, by deeds, “I do not love You.” We were fashioned precisely for this: to love our Creator and walk in His commandments from childhood to old age.
2. The Tragedy of Knowing Yet Spurning
To recognize His divinity and still embrace sin is to thrust Him aside and enthrone our own will. Such a man confesses with his mouth, “Lord, Lord,” yet in practice cries, “Depart from us, for we prefer darkness.” Let each conscience ask: do my choices whisper rebellion or shout allegiance?
3. Love Puts Christ First in Every Thought
Loving God means setting Him before every decision, letting His light search every motive. The soul that yields entirely becomes free of foreign bondage, pure in heart, set aflame with the very love that first burned in the bosom of God.
4. Mercy Misused Becomes Presumption
Yes, our Lord is good and forgives the penitent; nevertheless, to wound Him knowingly is to trample mercy underfoot. Peace with God flourishes only when sin is forsaken. Let us not cloak disobedience with pious talk of compassion, but rather prune vice by the power of His forgiveness.
5. Love That Extends Beyond the Grave
Our devotion is not a pastime of earth alone; it accompanies us past the tomb. As Christ loved us unto death, so must we love Him by loving our neighbor as ourselves. His sufferings display the cost of love; our submission displays its fruit.
6. Light and Darkness Cannot Share a Heart
“What communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor 6 : 14). One throne cannot seat two monarchs. To cherish sin is to invite Satan to dine where Christ should reign. He who loves the Lord abandons whatever dims that flame, allowing holy thoughts to govern his manner of life.
7. Obedience to Christ Means Obedience to His Church
“He who hears you hears Me” (Lk 10 : 16). Today, to heed the voice of the Church her Scriptures, sacraments, and apostolic order is to heed Christ Himself. Neglect this order, and the Savior will not shepherd our wayward flesh; embrace it, and the joy begun in time will blossom in eternity.
8. The Measure of Love: Sacrificial Fidelity
Our Lord’s crucifixion stands as the everlasting proof of His love. With blessed Paul we declare: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” tribulation, famine, sword? No! In all these we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom 8 : 35-39). Let this certainty steel our resolve to fulfill His will.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us.
Amen.
© John's Repentance
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