“Living our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master!”
(Based on Acts 15:1-2, 22-29, Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 and Jn 14:23-29 – 6th Sunday of Easter)
A story is told of a famous violinist who was to perform at a concert hall of world renown.
As he stood before the packed house that night and played his violin, he mesmerized the audience with his prowess and skill…
… and he was given a standing ovation.
He looked at the crowd for a moment and walked off the stage…
… only to return to render another performance.
To the amazement of the crowd, this performance was even more beautiful and flawless than the first.
He looked to the audience and left the stage for the second time, but was beckoned back by the deafening roar of the multitudes…
… and rendered a third performance.
This sequence was repeated several more times until finally the man finished his piece, looked to the audience…
… nodded his head and simply walked off the stage…
… while the cheers could still be heard.
Reporters pressed outside the violinist’s dressing room, waiting to catch a word from the man who had just given the performance of a lifetime.
As he emerged from the small room, one reporter asked the question, “Sir, why did you give so many encore performances?
You could have stopped after the first and everyone would have been amazed.”
The violinist stopped and replied, “For the very first time in my career, my master, the one who taught me to play the violin, was in the audience.
When I finished my performance, everyone stood except for one person.
I played again, and everyone stood to applaud except for him.
I continued to play.
At the conclusion of the last, I looked into the seats and I noticed that everyone, including my master, was standing and applauding!
It was only then that I was satisfied that I had done a good job.”
What about us?
Do we live our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master?
Do we allow Him to find a place in our hearts…
… so that we can reflect His Divine Touch, by our words and deeds?
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus throwing light on this beautiful theme of God wishing to make a home in our hearts:
“Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)
Our Blessed Lord presents a profound truth: Love for Him is shown not primarily through emotion, but through obedience.
In the Bible, to “keep the Word” is not just to obey outwardly
… but to guard it within
… to treasure it
… and allow it to shape every aspect of life
‘Keeping His Word’ is the hallmark of authentic discipleship.
In a world that often reduces love to emotion and obedience to legalism, Jesus restores the connection:
To love Him is to trust Him; to trust Him is to obey Him.
Do I obey God only when it is convenient, or even when it costs me something?
It is in such “obedient hearts” that the Trinity “will make a home!”
This is a fulfillment of God’s desire to ‘tabernacle among His people.’ (cf. Ex 25:8; Jn 1:14).
This is a movement from the external to the internal, from the temple to the heart.
The Trinity wishes to choose each one of us as His dwelling place.
The Creator of the universe desires not just our obedience…
… but a living relationship, so intimate that He chooses to dwell within us.
This longing of God is seen throughout salvation history:
In the garden, He walked with Adam and Eve.
In the wilderness, He dwelt in the Tabernacle with His people.
In Christ, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
Now, through the Spirit, He seeks to make each of us a sanctuary.
This truth is echoed in Revelation 21, where the New Jerusalem has no temple…
… because “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Rev 21:22)
What area of my life is Jesus inviting me to surrender, to make space for His Word to dwell?
Is my inner life – my thoughts, desires, and motivations – a space where God feels at home?
As we journey through Easter, we are reminded that the Resurrection is not just a past event – it is a present reality.
Jesus is alive…
… and He desires to dwell within each of us.
The question is: Have we made room for Him?
Let us seek to live our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master!
Yes, let us allow Him to find a place in our hearts…
… so that we can reflect His Divine Touch, by our words and deeds!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons.
Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children to fulfill God’s law. (CCC # 2222)