Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – Fifth Week of Easter – Monday – John 14:21-26

The daily Gospel reading from the Mass for Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter is John 14:21-26.

Christ continues His Farewell Discourse (John 13:31-16:33) in Jerusalem during Holy Week, preparing the Apostles for their mission after His departure. Christ reveals He and the Father are one, He will return to bring the Apostles to Heaven, He will send the Holy Spirit to guide them and that they must keep His commandments if they love Him. Christ now returns to the need for obedience in love.

Christ reaffirms the need for His men to keep His word. Throughout His Gospel, Christ is explicit about keeping God’s commandments (Matt 5:17-19), which is love (Luke 10:27). Christ promises those who love Him by keeping His commandments will be loved by the Father and the Son will reveal Himself to them. Remarkably, Judas (also called Thaddeus – Matt 10:3) expresses discontent, challenging Christ  to show Himself to the world.

Christ responds by affirming that men who love Him must keep His word and the Father and the Son will reward men who love Him by dwelling within them (make a home). In a mild rebuke to Judas for his prideful challenge to Christ, Christ emphasizes the need for obedience: the Father decrees men can recognize those who do not love Christ because they do not keep His commandments. To help men after Christ’s departure, Christ confirms the indwelling Trinity with His promise that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to help men learn and remember Christ’s word.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Person of the Trinity, Christ reveals the existence of the Father and the Holy Spirit and promises the Trinity will dwell in the hearts of men who love Him. Son of God, Christ reveals the Father’s love to those who keep His commandments. Divine King, Christ demands that men obediently keep His commandments.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Christ makes binding promises on God: the Father will dwell in men who love Him and the Father will send the Holy Spirit to help men. Only God can make promises that bind God; be awed that Christ, who has the appearance of a man, is in fact, God.

2) Christ reveals the Father and the Holy Spirt and that the Trinity will reside in the souls of men who love God. During Easter, refresh your understanding of the Trinity (CCC 232-267) and pray for Christ to help you accept the Trinity in your soul.

3) Christ makes it clear that those who love Him keep His word. During Easter, renew your understanding of and obligation to keep the 10 Commandments (CCC 2052-2082) and pray for Christ to give you the grace to love Him more fully and to turn from sin.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Souls in Purgatory

Virtue of the Day – Prudence

Corporal Work of Mercy – To give drink to the thirsty

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To instruct the ignorant