Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; Gospel John 14:15-21
1. In the Gospel reading of today, Christ told his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth.” (Jn. 14:15). Our love for Christ, therefore, is made manifest in our obedience to His commandment of love. But why does Christ equate our love for him with the keeping of his commandments? To answer this question, we must know what his commandments are. He tells us, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35). The timing of this commandment is very important; it was given shortly before his arrest. Knowing that he would soon be taken away from them, Christ called his disciples to love one another. It is by our love, one for another, that we are identified as followers of Christ. No wonder the disciples were called Christians in Antioch because of their life in Christ. The commandment to love is not new; the children of Israel were told: “Love your neighbor as yourselves.” (Lev.19:18). But to his disciples, Christ said, “love one another as I have loved you.” How did he love them? He tells us “Greater love than this no man has that a man should lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13). Christ’s love for us is agape love.
2. Agape is the highest form of love. It is God’s love for man and man’s love for God. Christ’s love for us is sacrificial, redemptive, merciful and gratuitous. He died for us so that we may live in freedom and peace with God. This love seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love of God working in the lives of men. Because of Christ’s love, the early Christians chose to live together sharing what they had in common (Acts 2:42-46). A true Christian is not only interested in his own salvation, he is also deeply concerned about the salvation of others. Merely giving some alms does not constitute the virtue of charity. Effective interest in Church matters and parish activities, intended to strengthen the faith of the members, is the obligation of every Christian. The Apostles and early Christians proved their undying love by accepting hardships and even martyrdom for the faith. This love is patient and kind. It is not jealous, or pompous, it is not inflated or rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury and does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It never fails. (1 Cor. 13:4-8). This evangelistic love draws people to Christ.
3. Because the Apostles were filled with the Spirit of the risen Lord, they were not defined by their particular apostolate, but shared equally in the mission of preaching the Gospel. In the first reading, for instance, we saw that Philip, one of the seven deacons, designated to share food, preached Christ in Samaria. The manifestation of which was the signs and wonders he worked in the city. Many sick people were cured. When Peter and John arrived at Samaria, and saw the glory of the Lord, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. When we are obedient to the commandment of love, miracles happen, and joy and peace are experienced.
4. The following are other commandments that Christ instructs us to observe in order to prove our love for Him:
· He calls us to: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17).
· He mandates us to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20).
· He exhorts, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24).
· He tells us, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (Jn. 14:11).
· He commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt 5:44-45).
· These are not mere suggestions, but commands! They seem difficult to practice. But that is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Christ promised to “Ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with your always, the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit will assist us to keep the commandments of Christ.
5. The Spirit will teach us to love as Christ loves and to forgive as he has forgiven us. There are broken families in our society which would not have experienced brokenness if family members had lived in love. Many marriages failed because spouses forgot the meaning of love and friendship in their marriages. There are men, women and children in jails, and street corners, who would not be there if those concerned had not failed to keep the commandment of love. Thousands are poor, famished, oppressed, bonded laborers, victims of war and riots, because some persons, refused to love them. Even more shocking, there are many who are suffering and are uneducated; many live without any place for Christ and His teachings in their lives because we have failed to show them love. When there is love, our families, institutions, country and the world will experience it. Because love is the one creative force that can transform the world. It enriches the recipient without impoverishing the giver. Therefore, Mother Theresa said, “Spread love everywhere you go, first of all in your family. Give love to your children, to your husbands and to your next-door neighbors.” Truth be told, if there are problems in our families, it could be that we have forgotten to obey the commandment of love. If our churches are empty, it is because we have failed to show love. And if there are problems in our homes, schools, our places of work; in our communities and in our nation, somehow, it could be that we have ignored, failed or forgotten to put the commandment of love into practice. And so, the time to keep that commandment is now! If today you would listen his voice, harden not your hearts. (Ps. 95).
6. May God give us the grace to show how much we love him, by keeping his commandment of love; and may the Eucharist we celebrate lead us to discover the Lord of love and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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