Recent gospel readings converge on the themes of love, perseverance, and community, urging us to embody Christ’s love in our lives and to share in the mission of the Church. Those Gospels takes us back to the evening of Holy Thursday and the Last Supper in the upper room. Five chapters, almost a quarter of St. John’s Gospel, are devoted to the few hours our Lord Jesus shares a final meal and dialogue with His beloved disciples before the dark events of His arrest and crucifixion unfold. Biblical scholars refer to the dialogue as the Farewell Discourse. It’s a moment of intimacy as Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure.
As a parent, I strive to set a positive example for my children with my words and actions. Occasionally, I suggest how to navigate challenging situations to achieve the best possible outcomes. By contrast, God does not give suggestions or recommendations to His children; He gives mandates and commands. Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” —John 13:34. The English word “love” encompasses a broad spectrum of meanings, but Jesus left no room for interpretation and commanded that we love as He loved. His love isn’t a sentimental feeling but a radical commitment to selfless service and sacrifice. Jesus loved us to the end, and we are called to emu-late this love in our relationships with others. This love is the defining characteristic of God’s children and how the world will recognize us as followers of Christ.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas traveled back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (“it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.” —Acts 11:26). They proclaimed the Gospel, resulting in making “a considerable number of disciples” —Acts 14:21. They strengthened the souls of these disciples by encouraging them to remain firm in their faith. They reminded them that “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” —Acts 14:22. This is a reminder that we are not exempt from trials and tribulations as we faithfully live out our Christian faith. But these trials can strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with God. We are encouraged by the early Church, which faced immense difficulties, yet they persevered, trusting in the Lord’s promise.
The new commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us encompasses all Ten Commandments. While the command itself is simple, living it out is often not. How can we truly love as God loves? Our instinctual response to our enemies, those who offend or hurt us, is often to dismiss, discredit, or demonize them to justify our negative feelings. We are called to resist these impulses. Praying for them is a tangible way to ask God to soften our hearts and help us see them as He does. When we are tempted to withhold our love or to give it sparingly and only to those we choose, we should look to Jesus’ love and His new commandment as the measuring stick.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.
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