Reflection
Those who love me will keep my word
John 14:23
Keeping his word means, at a minimum, loving one another. It is love in action We might distinguish between loving Jesus and keeping his word. We might think that we can do one but not the other. Jesus’ words do not recognize that distinction. To consider oneself a follower of Christ and then to exclude and demean others because they are not like us is a contradiction. We fool nobody with our prayers or pious words. This is not how Jesus acted. It is not what he taught. It is not acceptable.
Prayer
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.
Psalm 25:4-5
Action
Consider the public display of condemnation and the stoking of hatreds we see and hear daily. Consider hateful graffiti on places of worship. Think about violent actions and attacks on people because of their beliefs, race or life styles. How do you accept this or participate in it? Does it affirm your biases? Reflect on the actions and words of Jesus.
Suggested Reading
If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.
John 14:23-29
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers and sisters, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit.
Pope Francis
Do not let your deeds belie your words, lest when you speak in church someone may say to himself, “Why do you not practice what you preach?
St. Jerome
People of integrity and honesty not only practice what they preach, they are what they preach.
David A. Bednar
The Truth’ is not meant to preach or point any fingers. It’s meant to show that perhaps we should all avoid taking the moral high ground unless we have thought about things a bit more.
Michael Palin
He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.
Sigmund Freud
The number of people who believe in religious teachings far outweighs that of those who practice them.
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.
Oliver Goldsmith
Those who are most pious and noble tend to be the least tolerant.
Katie Hopkins