Our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles sounds like a travelogue of the ancient Gentile world. In between all those cities and villages we hear the care Paul and Barnabas took in calling other disciples to build up the early church. Paralleling the way the region and the church are being remade through the words of Paul and Barnabas is John’s vision, in the Book of Revelation of God creating a new heaven and a new earth, uniting the two in this new world.
In our Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This is the new commandment he gives us. The word love here is in the imperative, a command and commissioning to his church. This is how everyone will know that we are his disciples. The question was once put: “if you were arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” This is the perfect question to ask ourselves in our daily examination of our lives. In the courtroom, circumstantial evidence does not hold up. Wearing a cross, reading the Scriptures, praying before meals, saying the rosary, and celebrating the Mass each weekend are wonderful spiritual things to do, but unless they motivate us to love one another as Jesus loves us, they become a substitute for true faith.
Jesus’ commandment to his disciples is a lot more challenging than just the warm fuzzy feeling we get when we think of loving one another. He asks that we love in the way that he has loved us. This means we have to be willing to give of ourselves, to even lay down our lives for one another. Then saying, “ they will know we are Christians by our love,” will become a reality.
Love, Peace, Joy,
Fr. Bob
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