6th Sunday, If You Love Me Keep My Commandments (Graduation Mass)

Do you love Jesus? How do we know if we truly love Him? We can say to Jesus, "I love you." Which is good. But, words can be cheap. If we love someone, we show the person we love, by doing loving actions for them.

In the Gospel today, Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." We can tell Jesus, we love Him, but if we don't keep His commandments, do we really love Jesus as we ought.

We should not have strange gods before Jesus. We should not place anything above our faith, such as as money, fame or sports, our job, our even our family. God must always be first.

We should not take God's name in vain, by cussing or saying, God's name as an expression.

We should keep the Sabbath holy, by attending Mass, and not working on Sunday un-necessarily.

We should honor our mother and father, not talking back nor disobeying them.

We should not kill, which includes physically or verbally harming others, losing our temper. We should not overeat, or drink alcohol excessively or take drugs, or harm our own body. We should always forgive those who hurt us.

We should not commit adultery and be faithful to our spouse. If not married, we should not have relations outside of marriage or do anything impure or watch pornography. We should not use contraception, especially because the pill, IUD, patch or the injection, can cause the death of an unborn baby.

We should not steal. We should do an honest day's work. We should not cheat in games or at school.

We should not bare false witness, by lying or gossiping.

We should not envy or be jealous of others or their spouses.

If we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments. But, we are all human. We all make mistakes. We are all sinners. And Jesus understands that. What Jesus desires is that we try to keep His commandments. That we do our best to be a good disciple. To be holy and live a life of virtue. That's why Jesus gave us the sacraments, so we can be forgiven in Confession, and receive spiritual strength when united to Jesus in Holy Communion. Our Lord understands us, better than we understand our selves, and is always ready to give His love and mercy.

God desires that we not only keep His Commandments, but we also do loving acts of mercy for our neighbor too.

So, let's back track a bit. Do you love Jesus? How do we show Jesus we love Him. Telling Him, "Jesus, I love you." But, also to keep His commandments and not just keep His commandments, but to love others. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Matthew 22:39)

In the first Letter of John (4:20-21) it states, "If anyone says, I love God, and hates a brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: that he who loves God should love his brother also."

When students graduate from high school, they have their whole life to look forward to. But, there is a great responsibility to keep God's commandments and to love others. We need to do these to get to heaven.

As a child, our mother and father taught us to love God, to keep the commandments, and love our neighbor.

Often times, mothers shoulder the responsibility of forming us to help you become stewards of your own soul. Mothers taught us right from wrong. They taught us to share, to tell the truth, to not say dirty words, to forgive, to pray. They taught us the importance of attending Mass on weekends and going to Confession regularly. Mothers and fathers give us the skills we need to practice our faith on our own, and therefore, play a key role in helping us obtain heaven.

I was at the post office a few days ago. I saw a family from our parish there. The smallest child about 1 year old was sucking on a lollipop given to him by the postmaster. When he saw me, he took the lollipop out of his mouth and raised his hand holding it up for me to suck too. Of course, I politely refused to take it. But, the little boy's act of kindness, his little act of love, to share with others, was taught by his parents.

Now, as you gradate, you are responsible for your own soul. You are responsible for living out your faith. You are responsible for sharing what you have with others. You are responsible for going to Mass on your own. Going to Confession on your own. You are responsible for praying every day and praying the Rosary regularly and reading the bible. You are responsible for how you treat others. Will you live a life of selfishness or a life of self-giving. Will look out for the needs of others and help them when you can? Will you cause grief to others by bad behaviors or make the world a better place?

God has plan for every one of us. The prophet Jeremiah says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Today, think about doing something you will do for your natural mother and also the Virgin Mary, your spiritual mother. I'm sure your mother would enjoy it, if regularly told her, that you love her, if you kiss her, visit or call her. Take her out to eat or cook a meal for her. Or do a favor she asks of you. You can give her flowers or a gift on occasion.

If your mother died, have a Mass offered for her, pray a Rosary for her and daily pray for her soul.

The Blessed Mother is our spiritual mother. You will make the Virgin Mary happy if you daily pray Her Rosary, wear Her scapular, daily kneel before an image of Her and ask for Her intercession. And on occasion, set flowers before Her.

She would especially love if you made the First Five Saturdays in reparation for sins committed against Her Immaculate Heart, which includes: confessing your sins, attending Mass, offering your Holy Communion in reparation, praying Her Rosary and meditating on the three mysteries of the Rosary, Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries in reparation. By making the First Five Saturdays, you console Mother's Immaculate Heart so wounded by the sins of mankind.

There are five reasons why God is asking us to make reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

1. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception 2. Blasphemies against her virginity 3. Blasphemies against her divine maternity, at the same time the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all men. 4. Instilling indifference, scorn and even hatred towards this Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children. 5. Direct insults against Her sacred images.

Let us thank God for our natural mother and our Blessed Mother, and may we keep God's commandments, for by doing, so we will show our love for Jesus, who said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."