"Remain in my love ... My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

Meditating on these words gives us a sense of being loved deeply and knowing that Jesus desires that our joy be complete. Yet this promise is possible if we obey his commandments of love, for obedience and love go together. (1 Jn. 2:5, 5: 2-3). This joy is one of the characteristic notes of the upper room discourse (Jn. 16: 20-22, 24) as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The question we ask ourselves is: "Are we joyful people?" or "Do we share this Joy with others?"

Joy often gives a sense of being free - from bondages or rules that block us from listening to the messages of God. This was the issue that was discussed by the apostles and elders when confronted by some Pharisees who became Christians and believed that the Gentiles must be circumcised before being saved. Peter's argument was based on his own experiences with the gentiles, as affirmed by Paul's and Barnabas' experiences too.

As Easter people, we need to examine ourselves in our relationship with others. Do we love with conditions that prevent us from being free for others?