The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Francisco Estepa SVD – Liceo del Verbo Divino Tacloban City
Monday 5th Week of Easter
In the 70s, a song entitled “Love Isn’t Love Until You Give It Away” was popular. Although the song is about a relationship between a boy and a girl, it emphasizes the importance of putting into action the words you express.
This is also highlighted in the Gospel today, “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” While words matter, it is the action in consonance with the words that weighs more. Pope Paul VI reminds us, “Modern (woman or) man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if (she or) he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi no. 41).
Those whose actions are consistent with their words are the ones that impress people. Knowing God’s commandments of love is one thing but putting them into action is another and the one that really matters. This commandment of Jesus is an invitation to grow in his love. He first loves us, and in return he wants us to keep his words and put them into action. And Jesus knows how difficult this is because of humankind’s selfish tendencies of trying to impress with words but not followed by action.
That is why in the last part of the Gospel of today, he told his disciples of the coming of the Advocate who will support and assist them as they witness to God’s commandment of love. The Advocate will give guidance to Jesus’ followers for them to grow in God’s love and in return to put this love into action. Let us be aware of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit who will help us witness to his love.
