Fr. Bob's Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter - Guest Post

There is a story about a person who saw an angel walking down the street. The angel was carrying a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. Curious, the person asked, “What are you going to do with those?” The angel stopped and replied, “With the torch, I will burn down the mansions and halls of Heaven. With the water, I will extinguish the fires of Hell. Then we will see who truly loves God.” The angel’s point is simple: many people follow God out of fear of punishment, or hope for reward. They do not obey the commandments for the reason Jesus gives us in today’s Gospel: love. He tells us, “If you love Me, you will obey My commandments.” Now, we can approach His commandments in different ways. At times, we see them as burdens – things we may not want to do. But, we feel obligated to follow them. Take forgiveness, for example. When Jesus calls us to forgive our enemies, our first instinct is often resistance. We might ask, “Why should I? I cannot let my enemies push me around.” But what if His commandments are not burdens, but guides? What if they are given not to restrict us, but to lead us into freedom? Some time ago, the American Medical Association surveyed a number of doctors, asking them a simple question: “What percentage of the patients you see each week have needs you feel qualified to treat with your medical skills?” The responses were striking. Only 10 percent of the doctors felt fully qualified to treat their patients’ needs. The remaining 90 percent reported that many of their patients struggled more with psychological and emotional challenges than with physical ailments. In other words, these were life problems that went beyond standard medical treatment – issues like loneliness, isolation, anger, destructive habits and deep-seated hurt. These are problems that typical doctors are not trained to address. Perhaps the quality of our relationships has a larger impact on our health than we think. This insight connects directly to forgiveness: just as many wounds cannot be healed by medicine alone, many of the hurts we carry in our hearts can only be eased through the grace of forgiving others. It also sheds new light on Jesus’ call to forgive. When we hold onto resentment, we do not just harm others – we harm ourselves. The very thing we cling to as a weapon becomes a wound within us. Forgiveness, then, is not simply a command; it is a path toward healing and wholeness. Ultimately, Jesus’ commandments are an invitation to love. Love is what transforms everything. Fear imprisons, but love frees. Fear hardens, but love softens. Fear wounds, but love heals. A life forged in love turns us outward, prompting us to ask others: “How can I help? What do you need? Do not hesitate to call me at any time.” As St. Augustine once said, “Love God and do whatever you please,” for a heart formed in love will not turn away from the Beloved. My friends, in the end, it comes down to your relationship with God. Ask yourself: How do I obey Jesus’ commandments? Do I follow Christ out of fear? Or out of love? Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert Warren, S.A. Spiritual Director