Cycle B - Year I:  

10 May 2015: Sixth Sunday of Easter
(Liturgical color: White)

John 15:9-17


"Love one another!"


Do you remember the Gospel message of two Sundays ago?

Jesus gave us the measure of a good leader in his description of himself as the Good Shepherd.  He says that the Good Shepherd "lays down his life for the sheep." (Jn 10:11) Thus, good leaders are those who inspire us by their examples of caring, compassionate leadership, love and respect for human life.

There is also a measurement or requirement to be good followers of a leader. On the sixth Sunday of Easter, we will hear Jesus speak about how to measure those who want to follow Him as the Good Shepherd.

Our Lord Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment -- a new way of living in order to be worthy

of following him.  He says to them, "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you!" (Jn 15:12)

What is the essence of this new commandment? Let us look up to Jesus again for his example.

Well, true love is really sacrificial. That means, love gives all to the beloved. There is no greater proof in love than to sacrifice one's life for the sake of another. Jesus proved his love for his disciples by giving his very life for them, through his death on the cross. And so, we can prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross in our journey through this life.

Even so, we realize that we can never outgive God in love, because He has loved us without measure. For in God's love, we find the fullness of grace, life, peace, and everlasting joy.

In practical application, Jesus is really telling us to get out of our isolation, go forth, and bear fruit by following his commandment of love. In other words, all those who profess to love Jesus will obey his commandments and teachings because they enable us to make the love of God real in our lives.

Perhaps, one of the most spiritual destructive ideas that has infected the world today is the fallacy of claiming to love Jesus Christ while at the same time ignoring, and even rejecting, the commandments and teachings of his Church. It is simply "double talk".

The real test and testimony of our love for a person lies in our acceptance of what that person we love holds dear. Because authentic love means cherishing and honoring what the person we love cherishes and honors. That is what our Lord is telling us today: "You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15:14) And He commands us to love one another.

As we celebrate the mystery of Christ's love in the Holy Eucharist, let us pray to remain in God's love so that we can bear fruit through our love for one another.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!