6th Sunday of Easter (10.05.15)<\/p>\n
LOVE\u00a0 ONE\u00a0 ANOTHER.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n When John talks about love in today\u2019s readings, he points out it\u2019s true meaning – namely, not our love for God but rather God\u2019s love for us.\u00a0 This message is underlined in the Gospel :<\/strong> God\u2019s love is based on choice.\u00a0 He shows us that He could have no greater love than to lay down His life for the sake of those He loves \u2013 that\u2019s us, all of us without exception … just as we are….unconditionally;\u00a0 and this He did by\u00a0 willingly accepting\u00a0 the\u00a0 ultimate expression of love – His ignominious death on the Cross…in order to save us\u00a0 . It is a decisive movement of love …a challenge for us to try and imitate. Because God loved us first, we have the power and the freedom to choose Him as we travel through life.\u00a0 We do this by following His command to\u00a0\u00a0 \u201clove one another just as I have loved you<\/strong>.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n How can we do this!\u00a0\u00a0 St Paul\u2019s exhortation in his letter to the Colossians (3:12-14) gives us a guide :<\/p>\n \u201cYou are God\u2019s chosen race, his saints.\u00a0 He loves you and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.\u00a0\u00a0 Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins.\u00a0 The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.\u00a0\u00a0 Over all these clothes, to keep them together and to complete them, put on love.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n This kind of self-giving and attention to the needs of another reflect something of the quality of God\u2019s love in Jesus.\u00a0 By His grace, we can aim at choosing to give ourselves in love, even when the giving hurts, even when we feel that we have nothing left to give but our exhausted presence.\u00a0 It is that kind of love that mirrors God\u2019s kind of love.<\/p>\n In the words of the psalmist: \u201cStrong is His love for us.\u00a0 He is faithful forever and ever<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0In the old \u201cpenny\u201d catechism (the precepts of which were the rule of life for those of us who might remember!) we are also commanded to:\u00a0 \u201cLove your enemies \/ do good to those who hate you \/ bless those who curse you \/ and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 There is nothing weak or sentimental about true love<\/strong>…a sobering thought indeed!<\/p>\n However, as a lamp that gives no light is useless, and a tree that produces no fruit is worthless,\u00a0so too, a Christian who does not \u201dlove one\u2019s neighbour as oneself\u201d is in the same category.<\/p>\n When we choose to be selfish and refuse to love as Christ has urged us, we build a wall around ourselves.\u00a0 We ourselves are the first to suffer.\u00a0 We thereby condemn ourselves to a \u201cwinter\u201d of loneliness, bitterness, resentment, discontent – in which climate it is impossible to grow as people of God.\u00a0 Everything that is lovely within us \u2013 our capacity to love and care – is stifled or stunted.\u00a0 It is not surprising then that others would be put off and try to avoid us.<\/p>\n But, when we choose to make an effort to love as God has commanded\u00a0 – the wall falls down, and\u00a0 we open ourselves to others.\u00a0 Then, we are the first to benefit.\u00a0\u00a0 We experience a\u00a0 \u201cspringtime\u201d of friendship, joy, good will and peace.\u00a0 In this favourable climate we grow and blossom as persons, and others are attracted to us.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, to love as God has loved us, is no easy task.\u00a0 It requires much generosity of spirit, the will to forgive and forget, a non-judgmental attitude, seeing the good rather than the faults in the other.\u00a0Bridge-building is costly, as the Cross demonstrates; but the people stranded on both sides of it are freed!<\/p>\n Of course, this kind of love is indeed risky.\u00a0\u00a0 It can be rejected, misunderstood, misinterpreted, even rejected.\u00a0\u00a0 It can make us quite vulnerable at times.\u00a0 Look where Christ\u2019s life of love led Him!\u00a0Not many of us are called to love unto death \u2013 apart from the small daily deaths to self, which are part and parcel of following in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n To conclude then, let us aim at\u00a0 \u201cbeing there\u201d\u00a0 for\u00a0 the other in good times and in bad, aware that it is a Christ-like way of living, remembering too that when our own turn comes to render an account of\u00a0 ourselves,\u00a0 we<\/strong> will be judged on how we loved while on this earth. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 6th Sunday of Easter (10.05.15) LOVE\u00a0 ONE\u00a0 ANOTHER.\u00a0 When John talks about love in today\u2019s readings, he points out it\u2019s true meaning – namely, not our love for God but rather God\u2019s love for us.\u00a0 This message is underlined in … Continue reading
\n\u201cYou did not choose me – no, I chose you<\/strong>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201c What wondrous love is this, O my soul!\u201d….<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u201dAs the Father has loved me, so I love you.\u00a0 Remain in my love.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n