Acts 10:25…48
Psalm 97
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17
LIVING AND DYING FOR LOVE
In his message to the youth of France in June 1980, Pope John Paul II said: “the history of mankind is a history of the need to love and to be loved”. Indeed, the inner longing of every human person is to love and to be loved. For we were created by God out of love, in love and for love. In fact, “God is love”, says Saint John in the second reading. He loved us and gave us his only Son for our salvation. As such, those who truly love are sons and daughters of God (1 John 4:7-10).
In the first reading, this love of God is proven boundless, opened to all men, irrespective of their nationality or condition. By pouring his Spirit upon the pagans, God opened the door of faith to them through the ministry of Peter. Indeed, God excludes no one, but rather calls everyone to friendship with him. His love breaks the barriers of our prejudice and sufficiency (Acts 10:25…48).
In the gospel, Jesus gives us a commandment: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you”. He has loved us by making us his friends, laying down his life for our sake. Thus, what is specific of Jesus’ love is that he loved us to the end and gave his life for us (John 15:9-17). Thus, in order to experience his love and remain in it, we must love one another. In other words, to be loved, one must love; to receive God’s love manifested in Jesus Christ, we must give love to our brothers and sisters.
But what does it mean to love? To love means seeking the good of the other for the sake of the other; rejoicing in the good and success of the other. It means excluding selfishness, pride, envy and destructive jealousy so as to create space for others in my life. It also means realizing my deepest aspirations by living not for myself, but for others. It is only when we love in this way that we become true friends of Jesus. Anything apart from this is a caricature of love.
May the Lord bless us and teach us how to love as he loves us. Amen
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