Cycle C - Year I:

28 April 2013 - 5th Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical color: White)

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Loving others, as Jesus loved us!
 
Society tends to complicate our lives by creating so many laws. In the end we live our lives in fear of transgressing these laws. Such fear takes away the joy of living.

In today's gospel, Jesus gives us a practical and simple commandment to live a good Christian life. The gospel reading is part of Jesus' farewell discourse during the last supper before his passion.

Jesus said to his disciples: "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."

We ask, so what is new and unique about Jesus' commandment to love?

Well, Jesus speaks of love that is unconditional, without limits, qualifiers or prerequisites, and totally self-sacrificing. There is no greater proof of God's love for us than the cross of Jesus Christ. Because in the cross, we witness a new way of loving, a love that is selfless, sacrificial, forgiving and compassionate beyond comprehension.

The definition of "love" in God's kingdom is not "having good feelings about another person." Rather, love is serving others before I serve myself; especially serving those who do not normally get such devotion or do not even deserve it.

When Jesus commands us to love, he asks us to go beyond the normal love of friendship, beyond the love of family members, and beyond the love of a man and a woman. Jesus asks us to love to the point of suffering, as he has loved us.

It was this type of love that moved Mother Teresa to reach out to the poor and the dying people of Calcutta. And it is this type of love that moves parents to keep reaching out to wayward children.

In a real sense, love is our only mission here on earth. We came from love, we go home to love, and in between we are called to be people who can give and receive love.

The preface for a Wedding Mass says it beautifully: Love is our origin. Love is our constant calling. Love is our final fulfillment in heaven.

And our love for one another must include, not simply human beings, but the entire creation, like our environment and our world, because we are stewards of all of God's creation.

Loving one another, as Jesus loved us, is our witnessing of God's love. And when we love others unconditionally, we love God Himself.

A blessed Sunday to all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Deo Optimo Maximo!