The Fruits of Love
May 19, 2025 - Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
John 14:21–26
When people talk about love today, it’s often all about feelings—crushes, relationships, butterflies in your stomach. But in the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about love in a way that’s deeper than emotion. He says: “Whoever loves me will keep my word.” In other words, real love shows up in how we live.
Loving Jesus isn’t just about what we feel. It’s about what we do. It means trusting Him, listening to His voice, following His path—especially when it’s not easy or popular. And here’s the amazing part: when we love Him that way, something incredible happens.
First, we’re drawn into God’s heart. Jesus says that if we love Him, the Father will love us, and both the Father and the Son will come to live in us. That means love connects us directly to the whole Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We’re not just followers of a distant God. We’re part of God’s family.
Second, love opens our eyes. The more we walk with Jesus, the more we know Him. And not just know about Him like a textbook, but really know Him—like how you know your closest friend. In Chinese, there are even different words for knowing someone, depending on how deep the relationship is. That’s the kind of knowing Jesus offers. The more we love, the more we understand His heart.
And here’s the part that can blow your mind: Jesus says that if we love Him, He will make His home in us. That means your heart—yes, your heart—can become a home for God. St. Faustina once heard Jesus say to her, “Your heart is my heaven.” Think about that: the God of the universe wants to live in you.
But wait—how is that even possible? We haven’t seen Jesus face to face like the disciples did. We weren’t there for the miracles or the resurrection. And yet, here we are, over 2,000 years later, still loving Him.
That’s because of the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t leave us alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us, to help us understand, to teach us how to love. The Spirit makes Jesus real in our hearts today. The Spirit helps us recognize His voice, feel His presence, and grow in courage to follow Him.
So if you ever wonder how to grow in love for Jesus, start here: listen to His words, follow His example, and invite the Holy Spirit in. Love like that will change your life—and maybe even the world around you.