The Gospel today presents Jesus reminding His disciples that to love Him means to keep His word. In a way, He is preparing them for the age of the Church, a time when the Kingdom of God is already there but not quite yet. Specifically, He is preparing them for His Ascension, His "going to the Father".
The First Reading gives us a glimpse of how the early Church handled conflicts by consulting the apostles - an obvious evidence of the authority of the Church hierarchy based on Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit will always guide His Church. Through the apostles, the Holy Spirit revealed that Jesus' Church must be Catholic, embracing all peoples. The Second Reading, on the other hand, shows us the destiny of our Catholic Church; she is the New and Heavenly Jerusalem, founded on the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Our destiny as the Church is to be with our Lord God in heaven.
Jesus' reminder is also for us. We cannot be His disciples if we do not love Him and if we do not heed His words. This is common sense: a Christian is a follower of Christ, obedient to Him. In this discourse, Jesus also gives us assurance that He will not really leave us. He and the Father will dwell in those who love Him and keep His word. He also promises His Holy Spirit and His gift of peace. In other words, the Church, the community of believers, lovers and followers of Jesus is invited to share, and do in fact already share, in the life of the Most Holy Trinity, in that perfect communion of love.
Indeed, to be perfected in love in communion with the Three Divine Persons in heavenly glory is the Church's destination. But even now on earth, we must practice that love, as Jesus admonished us to.
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