Today we are reminded of the New Commandment that Christ gave us the day before He suffered. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34)
We are brought back to that Last Supper when Jesus was gathered with His closest companions and opened His heart to them. It was the night when His heart overflowed with love as it never had before. It was the night when He revealed the secret identity of every Christian, the distinguishing mark: "This is how all will know that you are my disciples," He said, "If you have love for one another." And not just any kind of love, but Christ-like love: "I give you a new commandment... As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."
Being a Christian is much more than being a member of a club. Being a Christian means having an urgent, important mission in life. It means being another Christ in the world. To love one another as He loves them. Love is meant to be our name tag as Christians. In the 3rd century, Tertullian said that when the Romans referred to the early Christians they often remarked “See how they love each other.” This was how they recognized them as Christians. And it’s not just a love of good feelings. It’s a love that brings us to lay down our lives for others, just as Jesus laid down His life for us. This is our great power; this is our great privilege.
God has come to earth and told us what will fulfill us. He has come to earth and told us what He’s hoping for from us. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Love is a Christian’s name tag.
In truth, the concept of God’s love is pretty simple, but in practice so many of us try to separate Jesus from His Word, thinking that we love Him as long as we “feel good” about Him, “respect” Him or have “affection” for Him. But in reality, Jesus is extremely clear – love is expressed in actions, not necessary words or feelings. Just like a husband’s love for his wife is shown not by how many times he whispers “I love you”, but by his faithfulness to their marriage vows, so our love for Jesus is shown by our loving fidelity in remaining faithful to Him in all the areas specified by the commandments. Out of love for us, Jesus gave us the commandments so that we might be filled with His peace and joy. For us disciples of Jesus, the fullness of peace and joy comes from the obedience to His commandment given to us in the Eucharist – His very Body and Blood.
This Sunday at a special Mass at 2:00 pm, 46 children from our parish will bear witness to the love of Christ as they will celebrate their First Communion, receiving the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the first time. I want to congratulate all those who will be receiving their First Communion this Sunday. It is a very special moment in your lives – a moment that will change your lives once and forever. From now on, you will receive the greatest gift of God to us – His creation – the Eucharist. From now on, you will grow ever closer to the One whom you will receive – Jesus Christ. I also thank everyone who helped and assisted in any way with the sacramental preparation of our children and assure you, families and friends, of my prayers on this very special day.
Have a blessed week filled with God’s love. I pray that during this week each one of us will have an opportunity to show how much we love Christ, by being faithful to His commandments and show that love to one another.
With prayers, Fr. Andy