𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 | Homily 05 May 2024 with Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD on the Sixth Sunday of Easter

HOLD ON TO GOD'S WORDS
By Fr Jerry Orbos, SVD

The story is told about a farmer who was worried about his cow who would not feed on the grass that had turned dry and brown because of the heat and the drought. What did he do? He put green sunglasses on the cow, and just like that, the cow ate the brown grass again!
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In today’s Gospel (John 15:9-17), the Lord gave His disciples precious words from His heart to their hearts, to remind them of His commandment to love and to give them strength when they face difficulties and trials. He gave them the “green sunglasses” so that they would be able to see everything with faith, hope, and love. Let the Lord remind us today of His words that can make us survive any drought in our lives.
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“I LOVE YOU.” This is the cornerstone; this is the pillar on which our faith is built. We are loved by God! “As the Father loves me, so I love you” (John 15:9). Different religions speak of God as Supreme intelligence, Supreme power, Supreme bliss, but only Christianity speaks of God as a Father, a loving Father with a heart.
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“REMAIN IN MY LOVE.” Stay in God’s love. Stay good, and stay beautiful! “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in His love” (John 15:10). Let us hold on to God’s love, keep going to the Light, and keep doing what is right.
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“BE JOYFUL.” It is not a perfect world, and people around us can be mean and uncaring, but we can be joyful through it all if we have the Lord, our strength! The joy of the Lord is a joy that the world cannot give or take away, a joy so secure that you can speak your truth quietly and clearly. “I have told you this so that your joy might be complete” (John 15:11).
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“LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVE YOU.” The Lord loves us as His friends, not as His slaves. And He loves us until death. “No one has greater love than