My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “Remain in my love.” But this raises a very important question: Am I really growing in the love of God?
Not just believing… Not just practicing… But truly growing in love. Because that is the heart of the Christian life. St. John gives us a very direct test: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar.”
So, love of God is not something abstract. It is visible, concrete, and relational. If I am abiding in God’s love, it will show in how I treat others. Now the question becomes: How do we grow in this love?
Jesus shows us the way—not just in teaching, but in His life. Jesus constantly prayed. He remained in the Father. That is why He could love perfectly He could forgive endlessly He could remain faithful even on the Cross.
Jesus loved the Father because He lived in union with the Father. And that is the invitation for us: Not just to imitate Him externally… But to share His inner life through prayer. Jesus says: “Abide in me.” This is not a poetic phrase. It means:
And here is the key truth: Fruitfulness comes from relationship, not effort alone. We struggle because we try to love… without abiding. Let’s be honest. When we are not growing in love, certain signs appear; we begin to judge others, we lose peace, we worry excessively, we become restless and dissatisfied.
As St. Paul says: “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” And here is a powerful question: Do people experience peace when they are with me? That is a real sign of abiding.
The early Christians were described like this: “One heart and one mind.” Why? Because they were united in God’s love. And where there is unity, Grace increases. So, our love of God is also seen in; how we build our families and our communities, how we handle differences, and how we build unity.
When we fail—and we do— God does not withdraw His love. Instead, He invites us back. Confession is not just about forgiveness. It is a return to abiding. A restoration of relationship. A renewal of love.
Before Jesus sent His disciples out, the Gospel says: “He called them to be with Him.” This is very important. Before doing… Before preaching… Before serving… They were called to be with Him. Only those who remain with Jesus can truly bear fruit.
So everything comes together:
Because Jesus says: “My Father is glorified… that you bear much fruit.” So today, Jesus is not asking: “Are you trying hard enough?” He is asking: “Are you remaining in my love?”
So let us pray more deeply, stay close to Jesus, return when we fall, and love more concretely. Because in the end: We do not become like Jesus by trying harder… but by staying closer… and loving more.
Father Pinto Paul C.S.C., ordained a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1999, worked with tribal populations in northeast India as a missionary for ten years. In 2010 he came to the US for further studies. While working as a campus minister at Stonehill College, he assisted pastors in local parishes, led seminars and workshops for teachers and students in the US and earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Boston College and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Lesley University, Cambridge. He is currently working as the International Director of the Boston-based Holy Cross Family Ministries with missions in 18 countries.
.jpg "Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.")