This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
Today’s gospel would focus on two fundamental teachings of Jesus. Actually, it was too radical that some people during His time could not comprehend or even accept them.
“Love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
In the past, the general trend was to do good to those who do good to you, and to only love those who loves you. It is new because Jesus calls people to pray for those who hate them and to do better things to them. He even pushed this further by commanding us – “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return”. In so doing, He promised us the rewards of Heaven. It is really difficult for us to do this but always remember that the Lord, Himself, has not hated us even though we are all sinners. In fact, He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. We are to love one another as Christ Himself loved us, even dying on the cross so we may be saved and live eternally. Start living your life in love. Unless you start loving, you will not really experience true love in return.
“I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends…”
A slave must serve his master. A slave must die for his master. This is the norm before Jesus showed the world a different kind of leadership. The new Master serves His people. The great Master would die so His people will be saved. As He exclaimed – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” And in the spirit of love, He wants us to treat each other as friends. Friends who love one another. Friends who are willing to serve others, while claiming everything is from the Lord. Love one another as He loves us.
Lord Jesus, I love You for You loved us first. And out of this love, You gave your life so all our sins will be forgiven and give us the opportunity again to join You in Heaven together with God and the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart with love for others, that it may draw love unto itself. Set me free from selfish cares, that I may have time and thoughts for them. Bless me, that I receive love by the loving service that I give. Amen+
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
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