Daily Gospel Reflection for May 14, 2020

Today's Gospel: John 15:9-17 - Feast of St. Matthias

I love this Gospel. When I read it, I feel like my job as a disciple is much easier than it can seem at times. All I have to do is remain in His Love. I don’t have to go in search of it. I don’t have to earn it or work towards it. I don’t have to create it or inspire it. I don’t have to impress God so that He will fall in love with me. I just have to remain; remain in the Love that is already there and that surrounds me and is within me.

You see, we’re already in His Love. We’re surrounded by it; consumed by it even. So, our job is simple: to remain.

But, anyone who has tried to take a toddler to Mass or train a dog to “stay” knows that remaining isn’t as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, the distractions of the world or our own internal impulses pull us away so strongly that remaining in God’s love seems impossible. The good news is, we’re not the only ones remaining. God is remaining with us as well. And He, unlike us or our dogs, has the ability and the desire to remain with us for eternity.

So, if we find that, perhaps, we haven’t remained with Him the way we should. A quick trip to Reconciliation (when you can get there, given the pandemic) will remind us that He has remained with us even when we haven’t remained with Him. And, that He will joyfully help us to remain with Him through His grace.

[Tweet "We’re already in His Love. We’re surrounded by it; consumed by it even. So, our job is simple: to remain. #dailygospel By @TheLauraBNelson"]

Ponder:

What are the things in my life or in my heart that keep me from remaining in God’s love? How can I counter those distractions or impulses to help me “remain” more consistently?