John 15:9-17 Love one another as I have loved you. (Gospel for May 21, 2006)

Observation:

This gospel passage contains some of the most beautiful and perhaps sweetest verses that we have read that Jesus said.

Interpretation:

These verses are more than just beautiful and sweet words, but reflects what a personal relationship with Jesus entails.

- John 15:10 – “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

Love of God is not just a “feel good” thing. It requires action, i.e. in keeping his commandments.

- John 15: 12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

This is the second time that Jesus says this, but with a slight twist. The first time was during the last supper but at that time he referred to this as a “NEW” commandment. This time, Jesus refers to it as “MY” commandment. It is a personal commandment of Jesus himself. We must love one another “AS I LOVED YOU.” Jesus’ love is the new standard, which means a personal relationship based on sacrificial love and forgiveness; and not the legalistic approach of the Pharisees in obeying the laws of Moses

- John 15:13 – “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus’ standards includes sacrificing one’s life for others, perhaps not in terms of actual physical death, but love based on “dying” to one’s self.

- John 15:15 – “I no longer call you slaves. I have called you friends.”

Jesus love is also not just a decision or commitment, but has the character of intimacy, reciprocity, and heart to heart, which are elements of true friendship.

- John 15:11 – “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you.”

Joy was considered in the Old Testament as the characteristic of the time of salvation and everlasting peace. It is the ultimate reward of a relationship based on love and friendship.

Generalization:

Loving God is serious business. It entails a certain kind of “dying” to one’s self such as loving the unlovable, taking the initiative to repair a relationship even though it is not your fault, choosing the difficult right instead of the easy wrong.

Let us not even go to the heroic acts, but simple acts such as: serving when inconvenient, being on the lookout for the Single who appears lost in an Apostolate gathering, setting aside prayer time in addition to gimmick time, setting aside money for the needy in addition to money for gimmicks, expressing love and affirmation to parents and siblings, apologizing for little faults, and so on.

Doesn’t a part of ourselves “die” when we humble ourselves and do these things?

Application:

God loves us seriously.

How serious do you love God? What expressions of God’s love can you do that entails a “dying” to one’s self?