May 10, 2015

Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48;

1 John 4: 7-10; John 15: 9-17

I am to love! That is the command of Jesus today to all who follow Him. This is a very easy word to say, but it is a lot harder to love. Why? Well I am filled with emotions that travel in and out of me throughout each day. Researchers say that we have 90 different emotions but that there are eight basic ones: joy, trust, fear surprise, sadness, disgust, anger and anticipation. Then when looking at facial muscles there is research that says there are really four: anger, fear, happiness and sadness. The point is that Jesus is speaking about me loving in all of my emotional states.

The readings today summarize His commands: “Beloved let us love one another, because love is of God” and “This I command you: love one another.” Living the Word, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days says “St. Thomas Aquinas, at the end of his commentary on John’s Gospel, recounts the medieval legend that John the Evangelist, as an old man, was carried to the church by his followers to teach the faithful. John told them only one thing: ‘Little children, love one another.’ Aquinas adds that in this we find the perfection of the Christian life.” Again this is very easy to say and to read but here I am today, reflecting on how exactly do I do this?

When I wake up I do my prayers and spend time with the Lord. This is a very comfortable time and a very precious time. Then come people into my life: the phone rings, I have spiritual direction sessions, I go shopping, go to a meeting and basically interact with a bunch of people each day. My feelings about those I come into contact with can be very complicated. A whole bunch of emotions and passions come into play like: anger, jealousy, lust, pride…etc…all of which make it very difficult to separate a giving, serving love from rationalizations and darker impulses. Am I loving…or is my love masqueraded as love; am I fooling myself that I am loving or am I feeling that I’m a good person and if I’m loving then I am really loving. We see that love today is used to support all sorts of causes; even killing is used in the name of love and being sincere to one’s beliefs. In reality, I’m doing what I want to do and since I want to do it and I’m basically a good person and a Christian, it must be the right thing to do and I know that Jesus would agree. I’m the master of manipulation and rationalization when I do this. The point is, I have to get back to Jesus since He is the one that commanded that I love.

Today’s gospel passage from John begins with a reiteration of the joint love shared between the Father and the Son, “As the Father loves Me…” Just reflect on that statement…knowing that I am loved is so important. To be loved is to be appreciated, valued, trusted, affirmed, precious, treasured, respected, important and all sorts of other wonderful adjectives. Walking out the door and beginning my day with this feeling is really special. BUT THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING…I AM LOVED BY GOD, JUST THE WAY I AM, EACH MOMENT OF EACH DAY. How do I know this? Jesus said so in the rest of the above sentence: “As the Father loves Me, So I also love you. Remain in my love.” I am to take this love with me each moment. Do I, of course not…I let too many other emotions, disturbances and things disrupt me.

How did Jesus love? Every page of the Gospels are filled with examples. I like the ones where Jesus touched people: those He healed, those who came for comfort, those with deep trials or with evil possessions. Touch is a sign of care, concern, friendliness and support. Touch also makes a person feel better and important. Today is also the celebration of Mother’s Day. I look back at the countless ‘love touches’ of my mom. They speak volumes, each and every one, and I am grateful. Jesus showed the disciples this love at this same Last Supper by washing their feet, showing them He was equal to them. And His ultimate love was in dying. AND Jesus spells out how we are to love by saying, “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 ones friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” It is so interesting to listen to people when they speak and so very often the conversation other people are brought up and often the caption is this one is my friend. We want others to know that I have friends and that this one is special because only those who are special do I label as ‘friend’. AND Jesus calls me and each person My Friend.

Most importantly is that Jesus, God has taken the initiative in all this…God has loved me and each person FIRST. There is nothing that I did to merit this or anyone did. “It was not you who chose Me, but I who chose you.” This is the most important… the most valued treasure to know that I am loved…period, from the very beginning and through each moment no matter how I feel or what I have done. It is not about deserving, it is about being loved.

Sunday Homily Helps concludes with this Exegesis of the Gospel, “This special relationship with Jesus is ultimately a result of God’s grace. The disciples’ commission is to go and bear fruit that will remain. Bearing fruit implies doing acts of love as Jesus Himself did while on earth. It means revealing God’s love through word and deed. This is the kind of fruit that will remain. It indicates the kind of love that must be at the heart of the Church as it carries out Jesus’ commandment. The passage ends fittingly with a repetition of the new commandment Jesus gives His followers: ‘This I command you: love one another.’”

I reflect on:

• What are the different way in which I use the term ‘love’? What are the ways I misuse it?
• Jesus commands me to love, whom do I see as the most significant examples of this Christian love?
• When I have the heart and the will, which are God’s gifts, God does the rest. Do I allow God to do this?
• When talking about how I am loving do I notice that I am filled with gratitude or with myself?
• In what way is the love I show my family different from the love I share with friends? Strangers? How are these forms of love the same?

Sacred Space 2015 states:

“My love for others must not be conditioned by how they respond. Jesus loves me totally, whether I am good or bad or indifferent. My love must have that quality too. This is costly love—it could demand my very life!

This costly love will bear rich fruit, whether I see it or not. Just so, Jesus’ love bears fruit only after His death. I must not be discouraged when my love seems wasted. True love never comes to an end (see 1 Cor 13:8). Loving actions are the building blocks of eternal life.”