Love one another as I have loved you

 

Article by Father Francis Maple - LINK HERE

 LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU

In today’s Gospel from Gospel of John, we find ourselves at a very tender and solemn moment.  It is the Last Supper.  Judas has just gone out into the night to betray Jesus. And what does Jesus do?  He speaks… not of fear, not of anger, not even of betrayal.  He speaks of love.  “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.”

Now we might say, “But Lord, love is not new.  The Old Testament already told us to love our neighbour.” Yes, that is true.  But what is new is this: “As I have loved you.”  That is the difference. That is the challenge.

 What kind of love is this?  Jesus is not speaking about a comfortable love, or a polite kindness.  He is speaking about a love that: washes feet, forgives enemies, bears suffering and gives even life itself.  Within hours, He will go to the Cross.

So when He says, “Love as I have loved.”  He means: love when it costs you something, love when you are not appreciated and love when it hurts.  This is not easy love.  This is Christ-like love.

A woman once cared for her elderly husband who no longer recognised her.  Day after day, she fed him, washed him, and sat beside him.  Someone asked her, “Why do you keep doing this when he doesn’t even know who you are?”  She replied quietly, “Because I know who he is.”  That is love “as Christ loves.”

It is not based on what we receive.  It is based on who we are called to be.

Jesus says something very striking: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Notice—He does not say: “They will know you by your knowledge,” or “by your success,” or even “by your prayers.”  No.  They will know you by your love.  This is the mark of a Christian.  Not the cross we wear… but the love we live. 

Let us be honest.  It is easy to love those who are kind to us.  But what about: the difficult neighbour?  The family member who has hurt us?  The person who misunderstands us?  This is where the Gospel becomes real.  This is where holiness begins.

Perhaps today, the Lord is asking each of us: is there someone I need to forgive?  Is there someone I have neglected?  Is there someone I find hard to love?  That is where this Gospel must be lived.

The beautiful thing is this: Jesus never asks us to do something without giving us the grace to do it.  We are not loving alone.  We are loving with His love in us.

As St. Augustine once said: “Love, and do what you will.”  Because when we truly love as Christ loves, everything else falls into place.

The world today is hungry, not just for words, not just for ideas, but for real love.  Let us be that love.  In our homes.  In our parish and in our daily encounters.  So that others, seeing us, may say: “They belong to Christ.”

Lord Jesus, You have loved us with a perfect and self-giving love.
Teach us to love one another as You have loved us.  Give us patience in trials, forgiveness in hurt, and generosity in service. May our lives reflect Your love, so that the world may come to know You.  Amen.