Love One Another (Friday Of The Fifth Week Of Easter)

Reflection

Love one another.

Today, Jesus calls each one us to ‘love one another’.

How do we love one another?

Do we really love one another?

The answer is given in the first reading.

It says that we are different.

We are different in our physical appearances.

We are different in our belief systems.

We are different in our traditions.

We are different in food habits.

We are different in dressing.

We are different in culture.

We are different in our languages.

There are so many differences among us that we can go on pointing out.

Is it possible to love one another when we have so many differences?

In spite of many differences, love is possible only when we are open to the Spirit to understand, to appreciate and to celebrate the differences.

Where do we find the Spirit?

St. Paul would say that the Spirit which raised Jesus is in you.

It is not outside of me.

It is within you and me.

It is also possible where love becomes a verb in our life.

What do I mean by love as a ‘Verb’?

In other words, love becomes action in our life.

For example, I say to a child that I love you. What does a child think? A child cannot understand my words. It is a abstract word. It does not convey anything meaningful. I say to a child that I love you by giving a chocolate. Now, a child understands very clearly what love means. It is an action.

Love is an action.

It cannot be abstract word.

It cannot stop with spoken words.

It has to be shown in action.

Are we ready to love one another in above context?

Are we ready to understand ‘love as a verb’ understanding, appreciating, and celebrating the differences in our life?

Are we ready to listen to the Spirit within us to transform us?

You are not a slave.

A slave love is just surrendering and doing it whatever pleases the master.

I am not a master.

Jesus say that I am not a master.

I do not want slaves to serve me.

You are my friend.

Friendship respects equality.

It is walking beside each other.

It is a shoulder to lean.

It is a pillar to stand.

There is no choice for me but to hold on Jesus my friend. He chose me and he love me as I am.

Am I ready to love one another as Jesus loves me?

Did Jesus love everyone equally? No.

He had 500 disciples.

He chose only 12 apostles.

He took only 3 out of 12 apostles for his intimate experiences or to witness.

He had John as beloved among 3.

He went to Mary’s house when he was moving towards Jerusalem with a heavy heart that he was going to die on the Cross.

She listened Jesus’ unexplained sorrow with her full attention and involvement.

That is why, Jesus said that Mary has chosen the right path.

What is important? Jesus did not go to disciples crying.

Jesus did not go to apostles.

Jesus did not to to inner circle of friends.

Jesus did not go to share with beloved John.

Jesus did not call up Lazarus his friend.

He knew that Mary can understand him better than the whole world.

He went there and spent time with her personally pouring out his sorrow and feeling of unwanted.

Jesus never loved everyone equally.

Jesus had his own love degrees.

We now know that different love degrees were present in Jesus’ life.

Do we love like Jesus?

Yes, we are.