Posted on 12/31/2016 10:19:02 AM PST by Salvation
One of the more poorly translated (into English) verses of the Bible is this one: If you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). This gives the impression that the commandments are an imposition on us and that we prove our love for the Lord by keeping them through our own human effort. The verse thus translated could be interpreted to mean this: “If you really love me, prove it by keeping my commandments.”
But the verb translated here as the imperative “keep” is not an imperative in the Greek text. The Greek word used is τηρήσετε (tērēsete), a future active indicative verb form, better translated as “you will keep.” A more literal translation of the verse would be this: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
This changes the tone of the verse and helps to show that the keeping of the commandments is the fruit of love rather than evidence that we are proving our love through human effort. In effect, the verse can mean this: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments with a joy and enthusiasm because lovers like to please their beloved.”
Love can take a difficult task and make it joyful for us because we know that our beloved is pleased. We are happy to please people whom we love.
This commercial shows the draw of love even when the task is difficult. Love empowers us to overcome obstacles to be with our beloved. Are we this way with prayer, or getting to Mass, or keeping the commandments? There may be times when we are reasonably hindered from such things, but overall, do we resist distractions and difficulties or do we just give up? Do lovers give up easily or does love find a way?
I don’t usually post these, but the message is good and the video is cute.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
I hope the young fellow has a growth spurt!
Sweet video, all right.
I’ve seen the short version during hockey broadcasts! Nicely done.
I have a grandson who was shorter even to his "little" sister until his junior year in high school. Finally got the spurt!
VERY sweet!
Boys' voices will change. If they don't they can become tenors and sing opera.
As for their height, they remind me of puppies...look at the size of their paws feet. Boys WILL grow into those feet.
That “if you really love me” is classic verbal aggression.
“If you really loved me, you’d get me a mink coat.”
Sucker response: “I can’t afford a mink coat.”
Smart response: “When did you begin to feel that I don’t love you.”
The sucker takes the bait. The smart victim points out the hook, which the aggressor wanted to hang there unquestioned.
My sister pointed out years ago that most sermons wind up with this bit of verbal aggrression, with the result that the listeners feel angry—and don’t even know why.
“If you really love Jesus, you will do x, y, and z.”
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