All About Love

All About Love

Scripture:

John 10: 11-18.

Reflection

My dear sisters and brothers,

Let us now listen to the Gospel text according to Saint John (John 10:11-18):

Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd.

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

A hired man, who is not a shepherd

and whose sheep are not his own,

sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,

and the wolf catches and scatters them.

This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd,

and I know mine and mine know me,

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;

and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.

These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,

and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

This is why the Father loves me,

because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.

I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.

This command I have received from my Father.”

I would like to present 3 important points for our reflection today.

1. Love is not Material:

I am the good shepherd.

It is repeated twice in the above text.

For the first time, when Jesus says that I am the good shepherd, he expressed that he can sacrifice his life for the sheep.

In other words, Jesus would say that I am the good lover.

I give my life for you.

I do not deserve his love (Romans 5:8).

Nevertheless, he loves me madly.

The second time, when he says that I am the good shepherd, he expresses that he knows us.

Jesus categorically says that he knows us.

I have called you by your name (Isaiah 43:1).

Jesus repeats again that I will lay down my life for the sheep.

What does it mean for us?

I love you.

You know me by my love.

You know me when I died for you on the Cross (Romans 5:8).

Love gives away everything even the precious life.

It further directs us repeatedly that Jesus’ love is immeasurable.

Jesus’ love is eternal.

Love is not material.

Love cannot be equalised with material goods.

Love cannot be bought.

Love has no expectations.

Love has no limitations.

Love knows no fear.

Our Shepherd is not a hired man.

He is our creator.

He is our saviour.

Love is all about sacrifice not any material gain.

2. Love Gathers:

We read:

I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.

These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,

and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Yes, dear sisters and brothers,

Jesus comes to us as the Good Samaritan when we need, when no one loves us, when everyone ignores us, when everyone rejects us, when everyone ridicules us.

He comes to us as the Father, who embraced his prodigal son.

He brings everyone and the whole creation as One in God (John 17:21).

The Father loves Jesus because he Unites.

Jesus gathers all creation together in love by his passion, death and resurrection.

Who does Jesus gather?

Jesus gathers all those who have scattered away from the love of the Father in their lives.

3. Love Gives:

Love is all about giving.

Jesus repeats again and again that he lays down his life for the sheep.

He expresses it not once, but three times in a short text.

It shows that Jesus loves us and gives his life for us in order to give us power and authority.

What is this power and authority?

When we love like Jesus, God gives us power and authority.

Power to love all.

Authority to love without fear as Jesus did.

We are called live like Jesus in our lives.

May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen...