May 10 2026    Gospel: John 14:15-21

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.   18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 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.”

The Spirit within is your constant connection to Jesus, rely on it!

This weekend we make note of mothers, those women who have given us life, time, attention, and care. Perhaps she even resides as a voice in your head, giving warnings, advice, and a verbal bump to get moving. What have you appreciated about her? What is it that is needed most from any parent or authority? Is it simply all the goodies they provide? Is it what they do for you? Is it those good meals they make and those clothes cleaned? Do we appreciate the selfless deeds done to pass along the support we need most? We know that the traits of many a mother are utilized by our ‘church ladies’ who serve meals, create LWR kits and quilts, do fund raising to support Hope in a Backpack, Food for Kidz, the Pantry, Caritas, Fredrick Place and the Community Table meals, and other local projects and beyond. Why do they spend their time and effort on those endeavors? Much of it we can trace back to that all important attribute of mothers, called love.

John reminds us of what Jesus claims about the trait of love and how it becomes evident in his actions toward us. “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. …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.” Love is active and demonstrated in obedience. Love originates in God, who gave the ultimate of that quality in sending his Son to save the world. This is a love that transcends self-interest, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness and thereby embraces all people and creation itself. Faith is made known through acts of love as we participate in God’s mission in the world. That is the invitation that comes to us in God’s commandments and has been totally revealed in the life of Jesus.

Paul spoke to the people of Athens when his journey to him among them. He wanted them to recognize God as the One who was active among them, even though they had not been aware of it. He could see they were concerned about doing the right thing. They did not dare stint any god of the worship that was expected. So, they created an altar to a god that they may have been unaware of, just in case! It was sort of a deity insurance; no god would catch them unprepared. Paul shares with them his experience of God, the One who does not require statues of gold or silver, or a creation of his image in stone or sculpted wood. Since this God did not emerge from human imagination but exists above and beyond them and yet comes to humanity so becomes knowable. “Athenians, I see how extremely spiritual you are in every way. 23 For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17)

God does want something from us, however. We are even given the means by which to fulfill those expectations. Our actions derive from our love, which has been born in us through our Redeemer. Then we have this promise from Him. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 

This promise is for us, modern day followers of Jesus. We are to realize that there is life beyond Easter Sunday. There is more to the story of Christ than Jesus is risen! [ ] As Jesus told us, there will be another Advocate, one beyond Jesus himself. The additional Advocate is the Spirit. By means of the Spirit the presence and power of Jesus extends beyond the empty tomb, which is not the culmination of Jesus’ work but an inauguration of His activity on earth through us. You see, when we say: Jesus is risen! [ ] we are being reminded that the abundant life becomes accessible and now needs to be lived out into all eternity. We are alive! Our self-interest is no longer to be our primary goal but now we are to truly live as God’s offspring by abiding with God among all our neighbors. As Paul claimed: (God) is not far from us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’. (17:27b-28)

I hope you realize the resources which are at your disposal. I am afraid we rarely take Jesus at his word. Jesus has not only saved us, we are now truly enabled to move forward with love, relying on the Spirit to continue the mission through us. We can take up a motherly devotion for her children, we can dedicate time and effort for ‘church lady’ type projects, these would be very good, if you are a lady or not. We can also treat people with respect and concern on a daily basis. We can share with them the good news of Jesus, that their lives can indeed change for the better. We can utilize the gifts the Spirit provides and produce the fruit that is promised: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5) Our Advocate walks by our side ready to assist us and keep us going. It is the truth!