Our Gospel for this week stresses the priority of love in every kind of situation. What is love? Love is called agape in the Greek of the New Testament. It is the unconditional, unlimited, undeserved love given by God as a sheer gift. Though John 15:13 refers to human love, it also describes the kind of love God has for us: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus does not present his love as a model to be imitated but as life that must continue in his disciples. We realize that Jesus has given us an example, a very good example, and that we must try to repeat what he has done. But the baptism that we have received has placed us in a different state: it has united us to his person and has turned us into members of his body. He is the one, not us, who continues to live and act in us; he loves, he cures, he comforts, he helps the poor, he wipes away the tears of the widow and the orphan. By observing what kind of lives we lead, others must be able to recognize the Risen Lord still present among them. We will find happiness and peace not in selfishness and pleasure but in love, in self-giving, in the search for what is good for others and of what brings joy to others. Jesus does not speak of universal love that embraces all, friends and enemies. Jesus talks directly to the members of the Christian communities and recommends unity among them and love for each other. It is a limitation, but it contains a very important lesson: before speaking of love for and peace with others, it is necessary to practice love and peace in oneself. How can a community whose members do not experience a deep feeling of mutual acceptance and service spread love to others?
| john_15_vs_9-17_easter_6_bible_study_2015.pdf |
RSS Feed
