Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 5, 2024 - 6th Sunday of Easter - B
[Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17]Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world that we might have life through him. [1 John] "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 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.....This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." [John]
The commandment seems clear: Love one another as I love you. But then the thousands of "What if's?" begin to flow. Jesus says that there is no greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. Hmmmm....can we settle for a "lesser" love? I suspect most of us do, but maybe under certain circumstances we could rise to "heroic" love. As St. Paul points out, for someone really special we might be willing to die. [Romans 5:7]. But that is extraordinary. What is "ordinary" Christian love? Lord knows, thousands of books have been written about it. Are we in the position of not being able to define it but knowing it when we experience it? Is Jesus calling us to a kind of vague benevolent attitude toward others? Is that the love with which he is asking us to love? In the parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:29-37], love is translated as mercy and compassion. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that the love of friendship is the best analogue we have for loving God and for God loving us - i.e. always wanting the best for the other.
The crucifix is the continuing reminder of God's love for us. We are reminded that love may involve suffering for someone else. Reconciliation and forgiveness are involved. [Matt. 18:15-35]. Seeing Christ in others is involved [Matt. 25:31-45]. At baptisms, I urge the parents that if they do nothing else for their child, it should be to teach the child how to give and receive love. Jesus basically tells us that love is a verb and not a noun. Our love for one another may be "lesser" but we do what we can with whatever gifts we have. Knowing that God loves us can motivate us to do the same. AMEN