Fifth Sunday of Easter: C: May 18, 2025

     JESUS' COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

Introduction: Jesus tells His disciples: "Love one another as I have loved you." It is the greatest of all commandments that Jesus gave us. It sums up all the others. In a sense the only failure in the life of a Christian is his/her failure to love. 

First Reading: Acts 14: 21 to 27

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21: 1 to 5

Gospel Reading: John 12: 31 to 35

   *First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. Various missionary journeys of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas are narrated. During their journeys they retrace their steps, encourage the small communities of Christians which they lovingly founded and nurtured. The new members are encouraged to persevere in faith in the Lord Jesus in order to face persecutions and sufferings in future. They establish a principle for achieving Christian greatness: "We have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God."

   *Second reading is from the book of Apocalypse. St. John narrates the vision about the new creation and the final union of all the faithful with Lord Jesus. It is taken from the final part of the book of Apocalypse. The new and glorious world order that awaits us offers us peace and happiness in the company of the victorious Lord. 

'Love one another as I have loved you.'                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus commands His disciples and all of us to love other humans as He loves us: That is to love unconditionally and unselfishly. To love someone unconditionally  is to put the other person first. The parable of the Good Samaritan graphically explains this teaching of Jesus. It is a very simple act and at the same time frightening in its implications. How many of us could do it in reality? Often we are happy with a few kind words or gestures, a commitment or two and we have a good conscience. True love like genuine friendship is more difficult and demanding. It calls  for an effort and it can cause pain and disappointments. It is not enough to say, 'I love you' or say, 'I care for you' and do nothing about it. The deepest hurt comes when our love is not returned or ignored by the person we love. Then it is very hard to go on loving such a person. Often we flatly refuse to love those whom we consider for some reason or other not worthy of our love. Interestingly, Jesus started to talk about the new commandment when Judas had left from the last supper. Then He opens His heart to the others. Judas' act of betrayal perhaps leaves a deep wound in Him. When on some occasion, we meet with a lack of response, we might take some consolation from the fact that even the Master failed to touch some in His earthly life. But as true followers of Jesus, we are singled out and are identified by our love for others. In this context St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says: "Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks you. Will you be that one to Him?"   "I asked Jesus, 'How much do you love me?' and Jesus said, 'This much.' Then He stretched out His arms and died." says Anon.  Dostoyevsky the Russian writer says: "Learning to love is hard and we pay dearly for it." May the Lord Jesus, who loves everyone unconditionally and gives us a wonderful example of love, bless you and give you a generous heart that loves others. Amen. 

(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, May 18, 2025." Thanks.)