Reflection
On Wednesday, Jesus exhorted us to “remain in him” so we can “bear fruit.” Today, Jesus teaches us what love looks like when we truly remain in Him.
Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you” is a tall order! Jesus showed us, through His passion and death, how much He loves us. He died for us, every single person, you, and me. It doesn’t get any more personal than that. Yet, that is what he did, so that we may be set free from the power of sin and death.
Love can take many forms, but there is no mistake about the love Jesus is calling us to show others. We are called to sacrificial love, which regards the good of the other person as our one goal. Not just loving ourselves, in which we accept sacrifice as necessary to fulfill our dreams and desires. Not just loving our family, those who have sacrificed their personal needs and desires to provide for our needs and desires. Not just our children, who were born out of love and are always the object of our love, sacrificial or otherwise. Like Jesus, we are called to sacrificial love for everyone, every single person who God places in our life day by day, hour by hour.
Jesus calls us friends, not slaves, because He has shared with us everything he was told by the Father. That is the level of intimacy to which we are called to love others. Jesus and the Father are one. Their love is also distinct, the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the very love between the Father and Son, is given to us as a gift to a friend. We are called to give that same gift, our very lives, to others, treating them as close, intimate friends, not slaves or strangers.
But our love is not meant to be held in reserve, waiting for the right moment before we share it with others. We are called to “go and bear fruit…”. Jesus didn’t remain in Bethlehem in the comfort of his childhood home or set up camp in Jerusalem near the Temple. Rather, Jesus was active throughout his ministry in spreading the good news that he was indeed the Messiah sent by the Father. We too are called to be active in spreading the Gospel message to others, despite the threat of rejection or persecution.
Today Jesus gives us a simple straight-forward command: Love one another. We can only obey this command by remaining in Him.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How will you obey the command to “love one another” today?