Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 / 1 Peter 3:15-18 / John 14:15-21
We know that it is an obligation to come for Mass on Sundays.
Some of us would even come for Mass on weekdays, although it is not an obligation to do so.
An obligation means that it is a requirement, a duty or a commitment. So, an obligation is not an option.
But, why is it that we must come every Sunday for Mass? Why can't it be fortnightly, or monthly, or quarterly, or whatever?
The main reason can be found in the Bible, that God, after His work of creation, rested on the 7th day.
Sunday is also the Day of the Lord, in which we celebrate the Day of Resurrection.
So, Sunday is a day of rest, where God calls us to come to Him and to celebrate.
We come for the Sunday Mass to offer worship and to give thanks for God's blessings of life and love.
We come for the Sunday mass to celebrate relationships - our relationship with God, and our relationship with one another.
And we come for the Sunday Mass to offer prayers of intercession as we pray for ourselves, for the Church and for the world.
So, the Sunday Mass obligation has the tone of a divine commandment.
But as with all Divine laws and commandments, we know that it is for our good, it is for our benefit.
In the gospel, Jesus says this to us: If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
We know what the Commandment of Jesus is based on - it is based on love. It is a commandment of love.
Jesus loves us and He calls us to love Him and to love others.
So, love is a commandment, love is a commitment and love is also a revelation.
When we obey the Commandment of love, Jesus promises us a gift of divine love.
Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit to be with us forever. The Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of Truth, will come upon those who live by the Commandment of love.
The Holy Spirit will reveal to us the reality of the truth of love in our lives.
When we choose the way of love, the truth is that we choose the way of God.
And the ways of God is beyond the ways of man, and beyond the thinking of man.
In choosing the way of love, we choose to be life-giving. So, we will choose to love, to forgive, to be compassionate, to be kind, to be gentle, and to be humble.
We will put God first in our lives, and that means we will pray and we will entrust to God our plans and our choices, and to let God direct our lives.
And when we face difficulties, despair and distress, we know that the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, will help us and protect us from danger and from losing faith.
All that is the truth of life, and that truth is revealed to those who follow God's commandment of love.
So, coming for Sunday mass is not just an obligation.
It is a celebration of love, it is a revelation of truth.
With the gift of the Holy Spirit, we will know the truth of love, we will know how to live our lives.
And we will also help others to live their lives in truth and with love.