In the gospel passage (Jn 14:21-26), Jesus tells his disciples Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him (Jn 14:23). Jesus invited his disciples - he did not force them to follow him - he invited them by modeling for them the life that he wanted them to live: a life characterized by mercy, by love, by welcome, by forgiveness. Even today, Christ invites us to discover the deep abiding love that makes these characteristics possible in our lives. If we allow our hearts to be moulded by his love, we too will learn how to love as he has loved us.
In today's world, as it was in the time of the disciples, some hearts may find it difficult to believe that love has the power to change even the most hardened spirits, even the most doubtful hearts; but love is stronger than any proposition that human beings might conceive of. Even the most forboding walls will fall in the face of the warmth of love.
Jesus' disciples first doubted his words, but as they heard the words he spoke, as they questioned them, and as they bore witness to the fact that his words were also backed up with his actions, they came to believe ... but not without their share of doubt. Only in the light of the Resurrection, when they were able to meet the Risen Christ, were they able to come to believe that the promises he spoke of while he was alive on earth would eventually come to pass.
The power of Christ's love was enough to convice the disciples, and to embolden them so that they in turn could and would continue the work of proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. Like Jesus, the disciples too encountered doubt and fear on the part of their hearers. The Greeks even chose at first to believe that Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods reincarnated (Acts 14:12), but through their words, and moreso through their conviction, the disciples were able to convince at least some of their hearers to embark on the path of discipleship.
Ever since those days, the work of speaking the truth of the gospel has been confided to Christ's followers. Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, a lay woman who was eventually recognized as a Doctor of the Church. Catherine was the 23rd of 25 children born to her parents. Among the youngest of her family, she was often ignored, but because she had been born into privilege, she was entitled to many blessings and riches. Instead, Catherine chose to forego all these earthly pleasures and to concentrate her efforts on promoting peace, on speaking the truth of the gospel ... even to the point of imploring the Pope of the time to return to Rome from Avignon. Her many writings were preserved and have formed part of the teachings of the Church. For her wisdom and faith, and for the clarity with which she explained many virtues, she was rewarded with the title of Doctor of the Church.
Catherine of Siena, an example of putting faith into action, an example of discipleship, an example of the power of love and faith ... pray for us.
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