Love One Another - As I Have Loved You

Acts 11:1-18    John 13:31-35

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"

In our world today, especially right now in the US, where things seem to be in a constant flux as different decrees are issued by the federal the government, we are all made aware of how important the law is to each of us.  If prices rise, we notice.  If neighbors who were formerly in good standing with our government are suddenly deported – we notice. We depend on what we call a “rule of law”. Our secular laws are meant to keep order and the peace, and we are both wary and critical if the stability of that seems in any way threatened.

But how important are religious laws?  Before the Protestant Reformation, Christians were all of one denomination, of one cultural and religious identity. The Protestant Reformation changed that, but the laws we live by as Christians did not change. All Christians are bound by the Ten Commandments and the Laws as Jesus gave them to us. And though for many, our sense of a unified religious and cultural identity may have vanished, all Christians who truly live their faith, are one Body in Christ.

In our first reading we see that for the Jews of Jesus time, their society, their cultural identity, is based on their religion. Dietary laws were strict, and all devout Jews were expected to adhere to them.  Keeping Kosher, as we call it today, protected the health of the Jewish community, along with being a religious practice that offered praise and thanks to God.

On the other hand, gentiles had no such dietary laws, food was not prepared according to the rules and traditions, not prepared to give thanks to God – so, the Apostles and believers in Judea, who were Jews who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, want to know why Peter has eaten the Gentile’s food, food not prepared according to Kosher law.

How important are religious rules and laws?  Historically, for the Jewish community, and for the Church, the answer would be – very important indeed. This importance has not changed.  We are still under the law of Moses and the commands Jesus has given us, and we need to be careful not to let the world distract or mislead us away from them.

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.”.

This is a law – as spoken by our Lord Himself.  There are no modifiers as to race, economic status, even religion – we are to love one another.  Our love is to be generous, unconditional, and free flowing – but what is it meant to look like?  The word love can be interpreted in so many ways – what does Jesus mean? 

We do know that in the original Greek in which our New Testament was written, the word used for “love” is agape. This shows us that the love to which Jesus refers is much deeper than friendly affection or familial bonds; it embodies a sacrificial, selfless love that goes beyond conventional expectations.  Agape love is a Divine, unconditional love that seeks the best for others, irrespective of their actions or status.

But human beings like things spelled out, not just in words, but in real life settings.  Jesus knows His friends will look for an illustration, an example to clarify His words, and so He immediately gives them one. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

What Jesus commands us to do, is no easy thing.  He makes it clear that we are to be in relationship with each other – not just giving money to charities, not giving from a distance.  Jesus saw the people to whom He was speaking as His friends, and we are to be close enough to the those with whom we come in contact, be they king or beggar, that there is love, a mutuality. But that raises the question, how often do we actually interact with those who are outside our family or circle of friends?

The answer is that in our everyday lives, opportunities to express love, to obey Jesus’ command often present themselves. Have you ever stopped to consider that the beggar on the corner, the one you might encounter while you wait in your car at a traffic light, the one in front of the supermarket or drugstore, is someone to whom your dollar is important, but to whom kind words of recognition may be even more valuable?  Do you look at them and smile? When they thank you, do you assure them they are very welcome?  Do you respond to their blessing with a blessing of your own? Do you merely offer the beggar money – or do you see a person, a child of God, and offer them agape, your love? 

Sometimes, if you give a stranger the chance, they will talk to you.  Like a friend or family member, they just need someone to listen.  Listening is not one of the strong points in our society today, but it is a great expression of love and caring. It demands that we give of that which we hold precious – our time and our patience, our caring.

It is easy to hear today’s Gospel and think Jesus is only speaking to members of the immediate group, to those who share common beliefs and practices.  But this is not the case. Jesus is telling us that our calling is to spread His unconditional love to each and every person we meet – from the idiot who cut us off on the highway, to the fool who crashed ahead of us in the grocery checkout line.  We are to love those who annoy us, and try our patience, just as we love our close friends and family.  Ours is not an easy calling.

In His words in the Gospel today, Jesus orders us to love until it hurts.  Jesus, Himself, will demonstrate for us that there is much more to His commandment than just sustaining peace and harmony among the faithful.  By His life He will show us that suffering is part of holiness, and from the cross He will show us that a true friend will lay down their life for others, as He did for the whole world.

Many of the saints have pointed out that when our time comes to present ourselves for entrance into the Kingdom of God, the only measure by which we will be judged is how well we followed our Lord’s commandment, how deeply, selflessly, and unconditionally we loved, because, in the end, God sees only our love.

Let us pray:

Dear God, we know that You are all powerful and loving, and we ask for Your strength and love to fill us.  When the world shouts hate, help us to love.  When the past won’t let go, help us to love.  When the enemy taunts with lies and surrounds us with darkness, help us to love.  When a relationship feels broken or we’re betrayed or rejected, help us to love.  Help us to clear from within our hearts and souls all that does not come from You.  May our lives be filled with your goodness and strength, today and every day, as we walk in Love as You love us and have commanded us to do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen..