Who really cares for you?

First: Acts 1:15-17,20-26
Resp: Psalm 113:1-8
Gospel: John 15:9-17

John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends

In a time when there are so many voices, all claiming to have the truth, how do we decide who actually speaks the truth? Jesus gave us one sign. Is that person willing to lay their own lives down for you? There are many people who die for causes, i.e terrorist bombers. But they are not doing you any good. They are not dying for you. Who is willing to die for you? Jesus doesn't say a friend is someone who is willing to die for themselves, or their own cause. But he says it is someone who is willing to die for you. Terrorist bombers aren't dying to save anybody but to destroy. Jesus didn't destroy anybody by laying his life down. There is a huge difference.
Are we willing to do the same? Are we willing to give it all for a "friend"? There are those who want our votes, who want our money, and who want our minds, but they are not willing to die for us. They want others to do it for them.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to realize that this life is a moment, a passing shadow. The true life is in you and is eternal. Help me to value the things that you call me to and not the momentary rewards of this world. Help me to love beyond what the world lives, but to love as you do.

Amen