Spring can be a great time to renew our hope. We see trees starting to bud, flowers poking their heads out of the ground, and grass turning green. We hear migrating birds and feel the warm sun on our faces. Much as we can behold spring making all things new, when God raised Jesus, freeing our lives from sin and death, we too, were made brand new. We give thanks to God for continually renewing our world and our lives.
In today’s gospel, we hear the Lord Jesus giving us a new commandment of love. Love is not easy. Even the love we have for a child, a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, or a significant other takes work. We have to overlook certain things that may annoy or anger us. The favors we do for them may be difficult and draining. Over time, we struggle with showing our love as we want to. So Jesus’ command to love one another is a challenge to begin with. When he adds, “As I have loved you,” it becomes nearly impossible. After all, he laid down his life for his disciples. How can we match that? God willing, we never will have to. But we love one another as Jesus loves us when we sacrifice our own wishes for those we love. In so doing, we are both obeying and imitating the Lord. We pray that we may continue to do so without complaint, without resentment, without giving up. We care for those entrusted to us with a love that bonds us to other persons in a reflection of that bond Jesus established with us.
Love, Peace, Joy,
Fr. Bob
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