Father, Son & Holy Spirit - John 14: 23-28

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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

Commentary

When I read todays gospel Wednesday afternoon, I was amazed at how much theology has been crammed into these 7 little verses. Jesus tells us about God, about himself, and about the Holy Spirit; and he goes on to tell us how each of the three will interact with us. I think is is worth our time to go over in depth all that these verses tell us.

First, Jesus tells us about God the Father. Jesus tells us that God is his father, is greater than he, has sent him to us to deliver the word, and the words delivered are God's not Jesus's. There is nothing particularly new or surprising here. It is just that for me, it is more understandable when put all together. God is the creator. He created Jesus, the Holy Spirit, us, and the whole creation. God also created the Word. As John says at the beginning of his gospel, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” John doesn't add, “and the word was Love”, but Jesus does.

Jesus goes on to tell us how loving him, will earn one God's love. I stumble on the specific words, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him. I would suggest that in light of the gospels as a whole, this is too bounded a description. We know that elsewhere Jesus tells us that if we say we love him but do not love our neighbor, we are a liar. I believe for Jesus, love goes way beyond a simple person to person relationship. I would suggest that we better approach what Jesus teaches if we rewrite it as; If a man Love, he IS keeping my commandments. For the Word from God is Love.

In the second part of the sentence, I would suggest that the “my Father will love him” is extraneous. God already loves us. Unconditionally. However, the second part of the promise is huge. What it says is that if we Love. Jesus AND the Father will both come unto us and make their abode with us. Jesus and the Father are Love. They can only live with us if we become Love as well. But if we do, they will. Not in some future heaven, but HERE and NOW, on this earth and in this life. That is huge.

Jesus goes on to tell us about the Holy Ghost. Notice here that there are no conditions set on the appearance of the Holy Ghost. Jesus does not say “If you Love” the Holy Ghost will come unto you. NO! What he says is the Father WILL send the Holy Ghost to you in his name. And the Holy Ghost will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance. Being a fallible human is not going to stop the Holy Ghost. She will be there for you. PERIOD. That too is huge.

Then we have the all too familiar, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you”. I think the important part of this statement is the next phrase, “Not as the world giveth”. Jesus is LOVE. The Peace he gives is the peace which comes from love. It is NOT a promise that our material life will be pleasant and comfortable. Rather it is a promise that if we live in love we need not be either troubled or afraid. Again, Huge.

Finally, Jesus tells us that he is NOT going to die on the cross. Rather he is going home to the Father. For the Father is greater. Greater than Jesus, greater than death, greater than mortal life. The Father has made creation as a stage for love. A love which includes us if we so choose, and a love that is eternal.

Amen