Key words and phrases: love, keep my commandments, give you . . . the Spirit, not . . . orphans, loved by my Father. I will love, reveal myself

To the point: Love is revealed in action.

Disciples love Jesus by keeping his commandments. Jesus loves his disciples by revealing himself to them. The Father shows love by sending the Spirit to dwell with disciples always

The fruit of love is intimate relationship with Jesus and the Father. Thus, Jesus assures us we are not alone, we are not orphans. We arc the beloved of God.

Connecting the Gospel

to the second reading: Peter calls us to hope and courage. The gospel provides a basis for both: we have the Spirit—the love of the Father and the Son dwelling within us.

to our culture: The popular expression “Your wish is my command” offers an insight into “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

When we love someone, we are willing to do whatever they ask of us. Jesus simply asks us to love him.

Love and commandments: This gospel passage begins and ends with similar sayings, though they are in reverse order: “If you love me keep my commandments.”

In other words, love is the motivation for keeping the commandments of Jesus: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them loves me.” In other words, keeping the commandments is the expression of love, that is, love is revealed in action.

Keeping “my commandments” is motivated by love and is the expression of love. Both love and keeping Jesus’ commandments are different expressions of the same reality, namely, that the disciple is totally dedicated to Jesus.

The two references to “commandments” in this Sunday’s gospel are plural. Elsewhere in John, we also find the singular In 13:34 and 15:12, the commandment of Jesus is to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Whether singular or plural, two points are noteworthy. First, the commandments of Jesus are summarized by love and are expressive of a disciple’s entire way of life. Second, the commandments are commandments of Jesus.

Jesus, whose equality with God was discussed in last Sundays Understanding Scripture comments, exercises the divine right to issue commands that require a response of total obedience. in Johns own language. Jesus is the giver of a new commandment (13:34).

This context of commandments and loving obedience explains in part the role of the Advocate. “Advocate” is the Latin translation of the Greek term “Paraclete.” Both refer to a legal assistant, one summoned to give aid in legal matters.

After Jesus’ ascension, the Spirit will be with disciples, assisting them in truth and helping them to fulfill Jesus commandment through loving obedience.

The fulfilling of divine commands, which requires complete obedience, is a difficult task made easier when it is motivated by the disciple’s love for Jesus, and when the believer has the assistance of the Spirit.

Those who live in loving obedience will realize that Jesus, though gone and now unseen, dwells in believers. The result of loving obedience is that disciples are loved both by Jesus and by the Father, and that Jesus will reveal himself to his disciples.

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