"If anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him."

This promise which Christ Himself spoke of is indeed consoling. However this 'love' which Christ talked about and revealed in His own life on earth is one that is experienced by all His believers and they respond by sharing this love with others especially those who are marginalized and deprived in our society. This is what "...keep my word..." means in the above verse.

This also implies that there is a need to check if there are 'false gods' in our lives as Christians. These may come in the forms of materialism, consumerism, individualism and addiction the 'instant culture' that today's world is confronted with. Do we submit to such forces that we are not even aware of like the people in the first reading. Despite Paul's warning they did not pay heed. They took things for granted and were not grateful to the giver, our Creator. Do we also take God for granted?

If we are unable to detect if such negative forces have influenced our lives, let us not forget Jesus' teachings.