Sixth Sunday of Easter

Easter 6^th Sunday

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21

With Love!

Let’s not sugarcoat it—Jesus makes it very simple today.
Not easy. But simple. He doesn’t say: “If you love me, you’ll feel something warm inside.”
He doesn’t say: “If you love me, you’ll say nice prayers once in a while.”

He says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

That’s the test. That’s the truth.

Now let’s be honest—most of us know how to say “I love you, Lord.”
But living it? That’s where it gets uncomfortable.

Because real love—real love—is not about feelings.
It’s about choosing God’s way when it costs you something.

And if we’re really honest, a lot of us don’t obey God out of love.

Some of us obey out of fear.
Some may go to Mass thinking, “If I don’t show up, something bad might happen.”

Others obey out of self-interest.
We think, “If I’m good, God will bless me, protect me, reward me.”

But that’s not love.
That’s a deal. That’s a transaction.

Think about the older son in the parable of the prodigal son.
He stayed. He worked. He obeyed.

But when his father celebrated the younger son, what happened?

He got angry. Bitter. Resentful.

Why? Because his obedience was never about love.
It was about what he thought he deserved.

And if we’re not careful, we can become that son—
doing the right things, but with the wrong heart.

Jesus is calling us deeper than that.

He’s calling us to a love that says:
“Lord, I trust you—even when I don’t understand.”
“I follow you—even when it’s hard.”
“I obey you—not because I have to—but because I love you.”

And here’s the truth: Faith, obedience, and love are inseparable.

If you really believe in God—you will trust him.
If you trust him—you will obey him.
And if you obey him with trust—love will grow.

And when love grows, something changes.

The commandments don’t feel like chains anymore.
They don’t feel like pressure.

They become something you want to live.

There’s a simple image that says it all:

A boy was carrying his little brother on his back.
Someone said, “That’s heavy!”

The boy said, “He’s not heavy—he’s my brother.”

That’s what love does.

It doesn’t remove the weight.
But it changes how you carry it.

Now let me ask you something directly:

Are you growing in your faith?
Or are you stuck where you were years ago?

Because mature faith looks different.

Look at Abraham—he trusted God completely.
Look at the centurion—Jesus was amazed at his faith.
Look at the Canaanite woman—she refused to give up.

Their faith wasn’t just belief.
It was action. It was trust. It was obedience.

So where are we?

Do we follow God only when it’s convenient?
Only when it fits our plans?
Only when it feels good?

Or do we follow him no matter what?

Because this kind of love—this real love—doesn’t just happen.

It requires a conversion of heart.

Not just knowing about God—but letting him change you from the inside.

When your heart truly belongs to Christ,
obedience stops being forced…
and starts becoming natural.

So here’s the question we all have to face today:

Why do I follow God? Is it fear? Obligation? Habit? Reward? Or is it love?

Now here’s the good news.

Jesus doesn’t ask this of us and then leave us on our own.

He promises us the Holy Spirit.

A helper. A guide. A strength we don’t have by ourselves.

Because let’s be real—we know our limits.

We get tired.
We lose motivation.
Small problems throw us off.

We start strong… and then we fade.

That’s why we need the Spirit.

The same Spirit that strengthened the early Church—
through persecution, fear, uncertainty—

That same Spirit is given to you.

To steady you.
To strengthen you.
To keep you going when you feel like giving up.

And finally—what is real love?

It’s not just a feeling.
It’s not just poetry or emotion.

Real love is this:

Showing up when you’re tired.
Doing your duty when no one notices.
Forgiving when it hurts.
Staying faithful when it’s difficult.

As Mother Teresa said:

“If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt—only more love.”

That’s the love Jesus is calling us to.

Not words.
Not feelings alone.

But a life.

A life that says:
“Lord, I love you—so I will follow you.”

No matter the cost.

So today, don’t just say you love God.

Show Him.

In your choices.
In your priorities.
In your obedience.

And ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to live it.

Because that’s where real joy is found.