"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him"
(John 14:23)

Jesus is giving his powerful farewell address to his apostles, and he has just assured them, among other things, that they will see him again because he will reveal himself to those who love him.

Then Jude asks him why he intends to reveal himself only to them and not to everyone. The disciple was hoping for a great public manifestation of Jesus, one that would change the course of history and that would be, in his opinion, more effective for the salvation of the world. In fact, the apostles thought of Jesus as the long-awaited prophet of the last days who would reveal himself to everyone as the King of Israel. Putting himself at the head of the people of God, he would establish at once and for all time the Kingdom of the Lord.

Instead, Jesus explains that he will not reveal himself in an external and spectacular way. His will be a simple but extraordinary "coming" of the Trinity into the hearts of the faithful, wherever there is faith and love.

With this answer, Jesus indicates how he will remain in the midst of his own followers after his death, and he explains how it will be possible to establish a relationship with him.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

Jesus can be present in Christians and in the midst of the community even now. There is no need to wait for the future. The temple that welcomes him is not made of bricks and mortar; rather, it is the very heart of the Christian that becomes the new tabernacle, the living dwelling place of the Trinity.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

But how can Christians achieve this? How can they have God come and dwell in their hearts? How can they enter into this profound communion with him?

Through love for Jesus, a love that is not mere sentimentalism, but one that will keep his word and show itself in everyday living.

It is to this love on the part of a Christian, verified by actions, that God responds with his own love: the Trinity comes to dwell in the person's heart.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

"Keep my word." Which are the words that the Christian is called to keep?

In John's Gospel, "my word" is often synonymous with "my commandment." The Christian, therefore, is called to keep Jesus' commandments. But these should not be viewed as a list of laws. They should be understood as being summed up in what Jesus illustrated by washing his disciples' feet: the commandment of mutual love. God commands all Christians to love one another to the point of total self-giving, as Jesus taught and did.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

How can we live this Word of Life well? How can we reach the point in which the Father himself will love us and the Trinity will come to dwell within us? By loving one another with all our hearts, with decisiveness and perseverance.

It is principally through loving in this way that we Christians can begin to live that deep-reaching Christian asceticism that the crucified Jesus asks of us. For the practice of mutual love causes the other virtues to blossom in our hearts, and this love is also the surest measure of true Christian holiness.

Chiara Lubich

Each month a Scripture passage is offered as a guide and inspiration for daily living. This commentary, translated into 96 different languages and dialects, reaches several million people worldwide through print, radio, television and the Internet. Ever since the Focolare's beginnings, founder Chiara Lubich (1920–2008) wrote her commentaries each month. This one was originally published in May 2001.

This monthly leaflet is a supplement to Living City, the Focolare magazine (livingcitymagazine.com). People's experiences of how they put the monthly sentence into practice can be read in Living City or in books published by New City Press (newcitypress.com).

For information and to subscribe to this leaflet or to the magazine, write to: Living City, 202 Comforter Blvd, Hyde Park, New York 12538; tel: 845-229-0496; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit focolare.org (international); focolare.us (U.S.).

© 2012 by Living City of the Focolare Movement, Inc.

Read More:

- Chiara Lubich, "The spirituality of unity and Trinitarian Life" in New Humanity Review, n.9.

- Chiara Lubich, "The law of heaven," A New Way, New City Press, 2006, pp. 48–51.

- Marisa Cerini, God who is Love, New City Press, 1992.

Next month:

December 2012

"But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God." (Jn 1:12)