Seventh Sunday of the Resurrection- The new Commandment
Gospel: John: 13: 31-35
Reflection 1
Love: A Beacon of Christian Identity
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you. The great importance He gave to this commandment is evident in his repetition of it twice in the same night (John 15:12-17). The phrase 'as I have loved you' introduces a new model, a new measure and a new dimension for the commandment of love, which embodies the love of Christ.
Saint Augustine pondered: "Why then does the Lord call new what is obviously old? Is it because it is a new commandment for the believer to strip off the old man and put on the new?" “This love renews us, makes us new beings and heirs of the New Covenant”.
New Dimensions
While the Jewish measure of love lies in adhering to God's commandments and not harming one's neighbour, the measure of love in the New Covenant is loving one's neighbour as Christ loved us and sacrificed himself for us. The commandment of love is old, but the Cross presented it to us with new dimensions.
Source of Love
The commandment of brotherly love is new in its source because it is the work of God within us. We cannot be merciful unless the Spirit pours love into our hearts: "God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). Love is the natural result of God's blessing, not a condition for it, as the commandment expresses how one should behave when truly living in the joy of God's blessing.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love serves as the hallmark of our identity as followers of Christ. Throughout the history of Christianity, the message of love has been central to our identity. It is incumbent upon us to embody this love in our actions, so that the world may recognize us as disciples of Jesus.
"See how these Christians love one another”
This serves as a sign by which people recognize us: "Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling" (1 John 2:10). This verse highlights the inseparable connection between love and spiritual enlightenment. When individuals demonstrate love towards their fellow believers, they are walking in the light of Christ.
When non-believers witness the selfless love and unity displayed by Christians, it challenges their perceptions and draws them closer to the truth of the Gospel.
"See how these Christians love one another" serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the radical nature of Christian love. It demonstrates that love is not just a concept to be discussed but a tangible reality to be lived out, one that has the power to change hearts, reconcile differences, and bring healing to a broken world.
Connection to the "New Covenant"
There is a close relationship between the New Covenant and the new commandment. In the "New Covenant," God writes his law on the hearts of believers (Hebrews 10:16), meaning he works within them by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3). This is a new commandment because it is Christ within us who gives us this love.
A thought for the week
The essence of Christ within us is love, for God is love, and thus love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Reflection 2
Love is very demanding
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our love has to be like Christ’s, that is, sacrificial to the point of death. This love comes not from us but from the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. If we are to be true Christians, we cannot be contented with words. we must express our love for Christ by the keeping of His commandments so as to love as he loved and to live as He lived.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is the mark of our identity. The History of our Christian identity is wholly centered on the message of love. It is our responsibility to exemplify this love so that the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
God is glorified
We often overlook the significance of this statement made by Jesus that “the Son of man is glorified and in him God is glorified”. This simple statement alludes to many significant teachings. The crux of this statement however is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus explicates a simple message, that the Son of man was glorified on earth after His death and resurrection. It is when Christ accepted his suffering via all the evils in the world that He truly illustrated to humankind His dying love for us. Jesus went to the furthest extent of Godlessness to bring all people back to His mercy. By doing this, He showed us the dimensions of God’s love for the world, as discussed by Saint Paul in Romans 5:8. More so, in this statement Jesus is referencing the unity between He and the Father. Since the Son of man is glorified, so too is the Father, referencing the fact that the Father and the Son are one. By Michael Alam
“If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties,” then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper,” but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me”. Pope Benedict XVI
A thought for the week
Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because the essence of God is love.
Gospel: John: 13: 31-35
Reflection 1
Love: A Beacon of Christian Identity
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you. The great importance He gave to this commandment is evident in his repetition of it twice in the same night (John 15:12-17). The phrase 'as I have loved you' introduces a new model, a new measure and a new dimension for the commandment of love, which embodies the love of Christ.
Saint Augustine pondered: "Why then does the Lord call new what is obviously old? Is it because it is a new commandment for the believer to strip off the old man and put on the new?" “This love renews us, makes us new beings and heirs of the New Covenant”.
New Dimensions
While the Jewish measure of love lies in adhering to God's commandments and not harming one's neighbour, the measure of love in the New Covenant is loving one's neighbour as Christ loved us and sacrificed himself for us. The commandment of love is old, but the Cross presented it to us with new dimensions.
Source of Love
The commandment of brotherly love is new in its source because it is the work of God within us. We cannot be merciful unless the Spirit pours love into our hearts: "God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). Love is the natural result of God's blessing, not a condition for it, as the commandment expresses how one should behave when truly living in the joy of God's blessing.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love serves as the hallmark of our identity as followers of Christ. Throughout the history of Christianity, the message of love has been central to our identity. It is incumbent upon us to embody this love in our actions, so that the world may recognize us as disciples of Jesus.
"See how these Christians love one another”
This serves as a sign by which people recognize us: "Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling" (1 John 2:10). This verse highlights the inseparable connection between love and spiritual enlightenment. When individuals demonstrate love towards their fellow believers, they are walking in the light of Christ.
When non-believers witness the selfless love and unity displayed by Christians, it challenges their perceptions and draws them closer to the truth of the Gospel.
"See how these Christians love one another" serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the radical nature of Christian love. It demonstrates that love is not just a concept to be discussed but a tangible reality to be lived out, one that has the power to change hearts, reconcile differences, and bring healing to a broken world.
Connection to the "New Covenant"
There is a close relationship between the New Covenant and the new commandment. In the "New Covenant," God writes his law on the hearts of believers (Hebrews 10:16), meaning he works within them by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3). This is a new commandment because it is Christ within us who gives us this love.
A thought for the week
The essence of Christ within us is love, for God is love, and thus love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Reflection 2
Love is very demanding
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave his disciple a new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our love has to be like Christ’s, that is, sacrificial to the point of death. This love comes not from us but from the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. If we are to be true Christians, we cannot be contented with words. we must express our love for Christ by the keeping of His commandments so as to love as he loved and to live as He lived.
“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love is the mark of our identity. The History of our Christian identity is wholly centered on the message of love. It is our responsibility to exemplify this love so that the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
God is glorified
We often overlook the significance of this statement made by Jesus that “the Son of man is glorified and in him God is glorified”. This simple statement alludes to many significant teachings. The crux of this statement however is the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus explicates a simple message, that the Son of man was glorified on earth after His death and resurrection. It is when Christ accepted his suffering via all the evils in the world that He truly illustrated to humankind His dying love for us. Jesus went to the furthest extent of Godlessness to bring all people back to His mercy. By doing this, He showed us the dimensions of God’s love for the world, as discussed by Saint Paul in Romans 5:8. More so, in this statement Jesus is referencing the unity between He and the Father. Since the Son of man is glorified, so too is the Father, referencing the fact that the Father and the Son are one. By Michael Alam
“If in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be “devout” and to perform my “religious duties,” then my relationship with God will also grow arid. It becomes merely “proper,” but loveless. Only my readiness to encounter my neighbour and to show him love makes me sensitive to God as well. Only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much he loves me”. Pope Benedict XVI
A thought for the week
Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because the essence of God is love.