Third Sunday of Easter

He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

It isn’t always easy to keep God’s commandments. The world constantly bombards us with temptations, distractions, and all many of earthly goods that can lead us astray. We have to be constantly on guard against all that would lead us away from God and to ruin. Thankfully, God has given us many graces from the Church to the sacraments to our fellow believers. All of these things can give us the support we need to withstand the assaults of the Devil and his minions. And if we are weakened and do fall, we thankfully have the sacrament of reconciliation to flee to... and seek forgiveness for our sins. Then, we can start anew and strive to keep God’s commandments more faithfully so we might be perfected in, through, by, and with Jesus.

Are we keeping God’s commandments? How can we strengthen our resolve to remain firmly committed to our faith? What can we do to ensure the truth is with and in us?

O Lord, perfect us in you.

Amen.