Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.“ I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
REFLECTION
This I command you: love one another.”
There are several types of love. The four main ones are eros (romantic), philia (brotherly) storge (familial) agape (Selfless). Depending on the seasons and stages of our life, we may experience all. Some may choose to stay in only one level and apply it to their reality.
The one Jesus wants for us is to love as He has loved us. He tells us to remain in His love by obeying His Commandments and being selfless. (Agape)
Jesus has set a new standard and raised the bar above emotions: to will the good of another, no matter what. Rooted in the Father’s love, it is sacrificial, self giving, patient, forgiving, faithful, and obedient to the Father’s Will.
This love is experienced in the family, dutifully performing chores, staying up with a sick child, giving up a “serving of food” for a hungry child, praying for one another, forgiving and being faithful.
The spouse generously gives of his/her time, taking care of needs or simple acts of kindness without bragging or expecting praises.
St Mother Teresa of Calcutta served “the poorest of the poor”, strangers, misfits, uncared for human beings in India with great love and care.
St Maximilian Kolbe sacrificed his life for a stranger in Auschwitz during the dark days of WWII. He did not know the prisoner, but He knew the man had a family waiting for him.
The greatest love of all is God. He sacrificed His Son so we could be ransomed from death. Jesus was tortured, scourged, mocked and hung naked for three hours on the Cross. He is the sacrificial victim and the Priest. And, yet, He forgave and intervened for the torturers, the soldiers and the jeering mob. He loved the repentant thief into His Kingdom.
He gave us the ten commandments, the seven sacraments, and Divine nourishment for our earthly journey—- His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. At adoration divine graces are always pouring out as He humbly and patiently waits for us.
When people hear our spoken words or the intonation of our speech, read our facial expressions or hear our excuses, see our actions and finally get to know the real us, will they see the love of Jesus or some pantomime or meme? May we love the way Jesus taught us to love.
