In the first line of our Gospel this weekend, Jesus says that if we love hime we will keep his word. That might be a tall order, since keeping our own word is hard enough. Napoleon said it well when he advised: "The best way to keep one's word is not to give it." The author of the bestselling book The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, knew about human weakness. He wrote, "Promises are like crying babies in a theather; they should be carried out at once." But the Gospel challenges us to do more than give a quick response. Keeping our word is a lifetime action. The Gospel also reminds us that if we do keep Jesus' word, the Father will love us and dwell within us.
This week our second group of second graders will receive Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion. We pray for them and for their families that they will always turn to Jesus to help them in times of difficulties.
