6th Sunday of Easter – Year A

Fr. Joonbin Lim

Preached: May 10, 2026

Today’s Gospel is short, but for me, it was one of the most difficult homilies to prepare.

Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” These words are not easy to hear, because they do not allow us simply to say, “I love God.” They ask us a deeper question: Is my love for God visible in the way I live?

In John’s Gospel, chapter 21, the Risen Lord asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” As I prayed with today’s Gospel, I felt that the Lord was asking me the same question: “Do you love me? And if you love me, are you keeping my commandments?”

To be honest, I do not love the Lord perfectly. Sometimes I love Him, but sometimes I forget Him in my daily life. My love can be selective. When things are going well, it is easier to say that I love the Lord. But when life is difficult or my heart is distracted, there are times when I do not think of Him as I should. I want to keep His commandments, but at times I fail, fall into sin, and need His mercy.

Sometimes, when I celebrate Mass or hear confessions, I ask myself: “Am I really worthy to celebrate these holy sacraments?” But the Church teaches us something very consoling. The sacraments do not depend on the personal holiness of the priest. They are powerful because Christ Himself is at work in them. The priest is only an instrument. The one who truly forgives, heals, strengthens, and gives grace is the Lord.

This gives me great comfort. Even when I am weak and imperfect, Christ is faithful. He continues to work through the sacraments for His people. At the same time, the grace of the sacraments needs an open heart. God gives His grace, but we need to receive it with faith, humility, and love.

For example, two people may receive Holy Communion at the same Mass. One receives with prayer and faith. Another receives without much attention or preparation. Both receive the same sacrament, but the fruit in their hearts may be different.

It is like sunlight. The sun shines on everyone. But if the curtains are closed, the room cannot receive the light fully. In the same way, God’s grace is truly given through the sacraments, but we need to open our hearts to receive that grace more deeply.

Today Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” These words are not meant simply to condemn us. They are an invitation to deeper love.

To love the Lord is not only a matter of words or feelings. It means opening our lives to Him, little by little, and trying again to live according to His word. We are all weak. I am weak as well. But what matters is not that we are already perfect. What matters is that we do not close our hearts to the Lord.

When we fall, we return to Him.
When we are weak, we try to love again.
When we sin, we rise again in His mercy.
Today, the Lord asks each of us: “Do you love me?”

And even though we are weak, may we answer Him sincerely: “Lord, I am not perfect, but I want to love You. Open my heart, and lead me to live according to Your commandments.”