Holy Gospel according to Saint John 15, 9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
To love others as God loves us
1) Love. Christians are called to love. But to Love the way Jesus loves, a charitable, giving Love that requires giving of oneself, giving wholeheartedly to others. This is what fulfills us. In every act of service and in every gesture of kindness there is a spirit of that supernatural love. To love in the style of Jesus is to serve others and live in peace. When you have peace, you transmit it to those around you.
2) Friends. Jesus invites you to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him. I urge you again to work at building your personal relationship with Jesus. In order to establish a bond, there must be closeness and dialogue. Take time to talk to Jesus. Get to know Jesus, don’t let the day end without having talked to Him, or at least having winked your eye at Him, to say: “Here I am, Lord.”
3) The message. With our hearts filled with Jesus, we are called to take Christ to many brothers and sisters who need the message of Love. Let your friendship with Jesus give way to simple gestures of love. Christians are called to share the “Good news” of Jesus. This can be done through small acts of kindness. Your message today might be simply a hug, a phone call, a visit or a message saying, “God loves you”.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And never forget that Heaven is our goal!
