THE DYING WISH OF JESUS CHRIST IS FOR US TO LOVE LIKE HIM
The Christian life and spirituality could be summarized in the dying wish of Jesus Christ for us to love one another as he (Christ) has loved us. Hence, the most fundamental guiding principle, philosophy, theology or spirituality of the Christian life is the call to love God and others not like ourselves but like Jesus did and commanded us to do.
“I give you a new commandment, love one another, as I have loved you,” John 13:34. This is not a suggestion or option by Jesus for us to do as it pleases us. No. It is a command, a challenge, and a dying man’s last wish. Neither, it is a beautiful expression of sentiments or wordy feelings, it is a concrete lived experience both in thought, word and action.
OUR THEME
The readings of this fourth Sunday of Easter are about renewal and new things: The New Jerusalem, a new Heaven and a new earth, and a new commandment. Where there is renewal or newness there is life, refresh-ness and living hope. Above all, there is creative love in action that liberates and energizes.
From the readings today it is clear that the Christian life is not a dead ideology or tradition but a living and active spirituality of concrete love of God and others.
The implication of the readings of today is outside God, or Love we are nothing and can do nothing. If in life, business, family, marriage, studies, work, and relationships, we struggle with untold difficulties. It is because we do all these not with God or love in Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit.
FOR CHRIST LIVING IS IN LOVING OTHERS
For Christ to live is to love in action not only mere expressions of love. Thus, he reminded us that, “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends”. John: 15: 13
We might ask, what is love or Christian love like? Here too, St Paul gave a beautiful and everlasting definition of Christian love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
We may also ask: how did Christ love?
i. He loves us unconditionally without merit or reason.
ii. He loves us sacrificially suffering and dying on the cross.
iii. He loves us understandingly knowing our weaknesses and failings
iv. He loves us forgivingly excusing our sins and failures
v. He loves us generously donating his Self, time, and talents to saving us.
vi. He loves us as equals: friends and not as servants or enslaved people.
FRIST READING: Acts. 14:21-27
Paul and Barnabas in the first reading demonstrated and showed us love in concrete action of self-donation or giving to the cause of the Good News amidst hostility or persecution.
The most consoling fact today is that through Christ´s love we are more than conquerors in our pains, sufferings, and tribulations like Paul, Barabbas and the early Christians. True Christian love overcomes and endures all things including suffering and death.
That is the paschal mystery we celebrate where the love of God for us in Christ Jesus overcomes sins, evil and death.
THE THREE NOTABLE LIGHTS ON MY MIND OF PAUL.
First, there is his utter honesty to the people who had chosen to become Christians. He frankly told them that it was through many an affliction they would have to enter into the kingdom of God. He offered them no easy way. He acted on the principle that Jesus had come “not to make life easy but to make men great.”
Second, on the return journey, Paul set apart elders in all the little groups of newly-made Christians. He showed that it was his conviction that Christianity must be lived in a fellowship. As one of the great fathers put it, “No man can have God for his father unless he has the Church for his mother.” From the very beginning, it was Paul’s aim not only to make individual Christians but to build these individuals into a Christian fellowship.
Third, Paul and Barnabas never thought that it was their strength which had achieved anything. They spoke of what God had done with them. They regarded themselves only as fellow labourers with God. We begin to have the right idea of Christian
service when we work, not for our honour, but from the conviction that we are tools in the hand of God.
SECOND READING: REV. 21: 1-5
The second reading, taken from Revelation, explains how God renews His Church by being present in her members and their parish communities and liturgical celebrations.
The love of Christ renews, beautifies, consoles, overcomes pains and sufferings, gives life anew, and strengthens the abiding presence of God.
The end of love and love is one of the new things: newness of life, opportunity, relationship, beginning, and lasting peace and joy in the ‘New Jerusalem’. Rev. 21: 1-5
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 13:31-35
In Africa, particularly in the Idoma culture to which I belong, respecting or fulfilling the last words of a dying or departing person is the best honour you can do to immortalize that person.
The Gospel of today treats the farewell speech or request of Jesus to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples”. Jn. 13: 31-33; 34-35
The question is: how did Jesus love us all? He did love us…
Extravagantly or lavishly Jn. 3:16
Willingly Jn. 3:16
Sacrificially Jn. 15:13
Forgivingly Jn. Gal. 2:20 or Rm. 5:8
Demonstratively Jn. 13: 31-35
Understandingly Jn. 21: 15-20
Unconditionally 1Jn. 4: 10-11
In summary, today’s Gospel passage gives us the secret of Christian renewal as the faithful practice of Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:35).
IS SUCH LOVE POSSIBLE?
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.”
It is a very demanding ideal to love our neighbour as ourselves or even to love our neighbour in any way at all. In the face of hatred, resentment, and conflict in interpersonal relationships, Jesus’ commandment to love, and his example of forgiving those who crucified him, constantly call us to reconsider things and seek reconciliation rather than total victory.
Fundamentally, it is only by living in spiritual contact with Jesus that we can love our neighbour deeply. It is by living close to him that we can love as Jesus taught. If not, we will be relying only on our human efforts alone, and we will love with some other type of love but not the unconditional love Jesus asked for when he said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.”
Fundamentally our Christian vocation is to love, it is the only way to show we are followers or disciples of Christ. Yet how difficult it is to love truly, though not impossible with the grace of God. Let us pray today for the grace as Christ did. That is to appreciate God’s love for me and the courage to face the challenge to love others as they are and as we ought to but above all as Christ has loved us.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, to love not by sentiments, thoughts or words but by concrete lived actions is not easy at all. Especially, in a world dominated by hypocrisy, the superficiality of social media, violence, hatred and revenge. Yet, it is possible through your exemplary life and grace. Teach us to imitate Christ day by day to put into practice day in and day out this fundamental principle to love one another as you Christ have loved us. Amen
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