Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The gospel this week of Easter answers this question that one of the apostles put to Jesus Christ, just before the gospel we hear today. Why do you manifest yourself to us and not to the others? What is the answer? He shows himself to those who have kept his Word. Those who have listened to him and believed in him. We get that opportunity every week, sometimes several times a week, and it is crucial that we keep or guard this Word.
In your room there are many things that you keep and take care of because at some point you will need them again. It would be your clothes or some machinery or whatever. You know that you will need it again and possibly soon.
The Word of God that you hear is similar. You may not need it today but perhaps in the next crisis of your life, you will need it. And the Holy Spirit who is coming again at Pentecost in two weeks will remind you of those things that you learned before, but at that moment you really need it. Perhaps when someone dies suddenly, or there is a crisis in the marriage, or a temptation that overwhelms you. The Holy Spirit will defend you and remind you of things you learned long ago.
Jesus even says that if you believe in his Commandments and accept them, he will manifest himself to you. He doesn’t even say if ‘you live’ my Commandments, only if you know that they are the way to salvation, he will come to you.
St. Paul says we carry this treasure in earthen vessels. We are not gold vessels, even the Pope or the saints are not gold vessels, but little ones, small vessels, at times broken and glued together. Don’t let the Evil One touch this vessel or hold onto it. It doesn’t matter if it is broken or stapled together, hold onto it. St. Josemaria Escriva used for a number of years a coffee mug that was broken, cracked, glued, and stapled together to remind himself of this fact. He was a saint that started many schools and some universities and provoked many vocations and yet he used this broken mug for many years. If the vessel breaks we can receive a new one in the sacrament of reconciliation.
What is this ‘treasure’ that we hold? The experience of the love that God has for you even when you were far from him, perhaps. The fact that he has been close to you all your life and many times you didn’t even know it. Those who love me, Jesus says, are loved by my Father. His love and his mercy are eternal. The only truth in this world is this love. Everything else is vanity and is passing and will be taken from us, but not this love of God. Hold onto it with all your strength.
On the day of the test that we will all face one day, those who have guarded the Word, kept it close to them, reminded themselves of it, will have an answer to the crisis they face. I was thinking of some priests who have really been through the ringer, but they held on to this treasure, no matter what happened, and for that they are still faithful. They had an answer. The Holy Spirit reminded them of it.
The Word is Jesus Christ. The Father spoke to us not using words but sending his Son, his only Son, who has risen from the grave, who has come back from hell to save us. What does he say to us? I love you! I died for you, so that you don’t have to die!!