Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

In my fourteen years as a committed Christian, I have noticed there are countless perspectives on how to be a “good” Christian. Many are compelling, yet they can seem contradictory: “Just be a good person.” “Go to Church every Sunday.” “Choose the right denomination.” “Love God and neighbour.” “Pray.” “Follow the commandments.” “Submit to God’s will.” “Read the Bible.” “Receive the Sacraments.” “Submit to the teachings of the Church.” The list goes on.

Even some Scriptures which stress God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8–9) and inseparable love (Romans 8:38–39) seem to stand in tension with Jesus’ words today. Yet, this is part of the all-encompassing beauty of the Gospel. I do not believe these perspectives truly contradict one another. G.K. Chesterton wrote in Orthodoxy that “Christianity got over the difficulty of combining furious opposites, by keeping them both, and keeping them both furious.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a clear direction for how we are to love him: to have and keep his commandments. This first implies relationship. I cannot have and keep the commandments of someone I do not know. So I must first seek to know Jesus. How? Go to Mass, pray, read Scripture and the teachings and traditions of the Church, and receive the Sacraments.

Then, I must seek to keep his commandments as he directs: to love God and neighbour, submit to his will, and care for those in need.

I believe most of the Gospel injunctions listed above are not rivals. Rather than choosing one and discarding the others, we are called to keep them all, and keep them all furious!

How do you keep your faith journey furious?