Whitsuntide
COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL
(John 14.23-31) for Pentecost Sunday
"This is the day on which the Holy Ghost descended
upon the apostles, and changing the hearts of those carnally minded men, led
them to the love of Himself. While the tongues of fire appeared externally, the
hearts of the disciples were enkindled within, and as they beheld God under the
appearance of fire, they became aflame with love together with unspeakable
sweetness of soul. For the Holy Ghost is love, and therefore St John says: ‘God
is Charity.’ Now love is proved by action. St John says again: ‘Whosoever says:
I love God, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar.’
Our love for God is
genuine if we resist the attractions of pleasure in order to obey Him, and
anyone who goes on devoting himself to pleasure does not truly love God, since
he acts contrary to His will.
Do not think, then, that you love Him unless you
prove it by good works. Let your speech, your mind, your whole life be
consecrated to the quest for God's love, for in that love inertia has no
place" (Homily at Matins).
[from the St Andrew’s Daily Missal (1937)]
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