Why does it matter for us to know ourselves better

In this catechism, Jesus doesn’t expect you to have all the answers or to be perfect. He invites you to know him and learn to live as his disciple. Scripture says: John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” This passage shows that the relationship begins with Jesus: he calls his disciples and sends them to bear fruit. In your life, that fruit can grow little by little in the way you love, serve, seek the truth, and treat others. You don’t have to figure out a secret mission or do everything right away. In catechism, you can learn to recognize his voice and respond freely. You can also ask God to help you understand what you’re learning and put it into practice. I thank God that his invitation doesn’t depend on you already being perfect; you can grow step by step. What part of the catechism or this passage made you wonder what Jesus wants for you?

In John 15:1; John 15:2; John 15:3; John 15:4; John 15:5; John 15:6; John 15:7; John 15:8; John 15:9; John 15:10; John 15:11; John 15:12, Jesus shows that life with him is a relationship that bears fruit and is expressed through love. That’s why getting to know other people matters: it helps us love them through concrete actions, not just in theory. To be present, listen, and serve well, we need to pay attention to who they are and what they’re going through. Jesus teaches: John 15:12: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” The passage doesn’t say we need to know every detail about others or that we can fully understand their hearts. But it shows that remaining in Jesus’ love moves us to approach others with attention, patience, and care. That love is part of the fruit a life united with Christ can bear. The available biblical passage goes only as far as John 15:1; John 15:2; John 15:3; John 15:4; John 15:5; John 15:6; John 15:7; John 15:8; John 15:9; John 15:10; John 15:11; John 15:12, so I won’t attribute a specific teaching here to the following chapter. I thank God that Christian love can take shape in simple, faithful gestures, even when getting to know someone takes time. Is there someone you’d like to get to know better so you can love them in a more concrete way?

Getting to know others matters because it helps us love them in practical ways, not just in theory. When we listen to their stories and learn what they need, we can be more patient, serve them better, and avoid judging them by what we see from the outside. In John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”, Jesus speaks of a relationship with him that bears fruit. One way to live out that calling is to approach people with care and respect: love can take the form of listening, encouraging, or helping when needed. That doesn’t mean we need to know every detail of someone’s life or cross their boundaries; it means treating each person with dignity. Thank God, we don’t have to love perfectly to begin. We can start with something simple: listening without rushing to respond. Is there someone you’d like to get to know better or understand more patiently?