This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. A disciple’s love becomes a memorial and a sign of Jesus in the world in which we live. A disciple’s love is to be selfless and sacrificial, following the example that Jesus gave to us. We can see Mary, the Mother of God as the model disciple of Jesus. She lived a selfless and sacrificial life of love. Mary leads us to Jesus, by her example, by her intercession – keeping us on the “narrow” path to eternal life. Mary knows all that we truly need and even without us ever realizing, she asks her Son to help us – whether our needs be spiritual, emotional, physical, financial or psychological. Mary, our spiritual mother is an awesome gift, given by Jesus to every human being!
Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. As St. Paul told us that we are living temples of God the Holy Spirit. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. (1Cor6:19-20) The Holy Spirit is the mutual love between the Father and the Son. By God the Holy Spirit, we have the power of God’s love dwelling in our midst.
Then, I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Rev 21:1) The new heaven and new earth is the promise of a world transfigured by the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ.While we await this new heaven and new earth, we work now to transform our world through love. We love by forgiving and not judging. We love by welcoming and not leaving people out. We love by praying for others needs. We love by helping those in need, corporally and spiritually. This is the love of God manifested in a concrete way through us that tells the world that we belong to Jesus Christ!
May the Risen Christ bless us always!
Deacon Mike