Scripture readings for today can be found at Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter | USCCB
In our gospel for today the Lord is teaching us that
love is at the core of who we are as his followers. It is probably one of the
most difficult teachings of Jesus to follow. “Love one another as I love you.”
With so many “unlovable” people around us, we may ask: how can we love those
people we may feel uncomfortable with or downright dislike?
We all know the love Jesus has for each one of us. He
loved us so much so that he came into this world to suffer death for our sins
and to rise again on the third day in order to bring salvation to the world and
forgiveness of sins. So, the love of Jesus is very evident in his whole life
and ministry up to and including his crucifixion on Good Friday and
Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The challenge Jesus is giving us in today’s gospel,
and all throughout the Gospels, is that we are to show that love to all we come
into contact within our lives. This includes not only family members and
friends that are easy to love, but also with those in our lives that are very
“unlovable”.
Jesus made it clear in today’s gospel that we are his
“friends.” Then he goes on to tell us, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” That command is to love everyone unconditionally. To clarify
further, we don’t have to worry about “liking” everyone. Not everyone is
likeable. But everyone is made in the image and likeness of God, and we are to
love them as Jesus loves them, and to show them the respect of being made in
the image and likeness of God. It’s not easy. But it’s what the Lord Jesus is
calling us to do.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Keep giving Jesus to people not by words but by example, by being in love with Jesus.” It is through this love of Jesus that we in turn can love those around us. It will be then that we will keep these words of Jesus, “This I command you: love one another.”
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quote from St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Sometimes when either showing the love of Our LORD to someone with whom we feel some conflict is difficult or when caring for someone we love deeply requires sacrifice, such as having to tend to someone's needs several times during the night & we're tired, what can be helpful is to ask JESUS to love the person THROUGH US. When we cannot love like JESUS in our own strength & we ask Him, we will usually find His love working through us to the other person & that person will experience/feel His love.
Moments like these reflect the words of St. Paul: "it is no longer I who live but CHRIST lives/living in me."