Remain in My Love
Church of St. Catherine of Siena, 1931
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, we reflect on the words of John 14:15-21, where Jesus tells his disciples,
I will ask the Father,
and He will give you another Helper,
that He may be with you forever;
that is the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive,
because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him
because He abides with you and will be in you.
These words remind us of the importance of love and obedience in our relationship with God, and the promise of the Holy Spirit as our guide and helper.
In the Maha-parinibbana Sutta, the Buddha similarly emphasizes the importance of following his teachings after he is gone. He tells his disciples that whatever Dhamma (teachings) and Vinaya (monastic discipline) he has taught them will be their Teacher, even when he is no longer present with them.
Both Jesus and the Buddha knew that their physical presence would not last forever, but they left behind teachings that would guide their followers for generations to come. They taught that the true Teacher is not the person who delivers the message, but the message itself.
In the case of Jesus, his message was one of love, compassion, and forgiveness. He showed us how to love our neighbors as ourselves, even when it is difficult. He taught us to forgive others, even when they have wronged us. And he demonstrated the ultimate act of love and sacrifice by giving his life for us.
Similarly, the Buddha's message was one of compassion and wisdom. He taught us to see the interconnectedness of all things, and to cultivate kindness and understanding towards ourselves and others. He showed us the path to liberation from suffering, and the importance of living a moral and ethical life.
As we reflect on these teachings, let us remember that the true Teacher is not the person who delivers the message, but the message itself. Let us strive to follow the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha, and to live a life of love, compassion, and wisdom. And let us trust that the Holy Spirit and the Dhamma and Vinaya will guide us on this journey, even when the physical presence of our teachers is no longer with us.
May we all find peace and happiness in the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha, and may we continue to learn and grow in our faith and understanding.
Thank you, and may you all be well.