Love as He Did

by David Lins  |  05/19/2019  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

In John 13, Jesus talks about love. This probably doesn’t come as a shock. (He tended to do that quite a bit.) Yet, I think this Scripture might be worth a moment of deeper reflection.

Judas had just left Jesus’ company to betray Him. And Jesus immediately teaching His remaining disciples about love!

Jesus obviously knew what Judas was up to and what fate awaited them both as He said, “I will be with you a little while longer.”

I find it astonishing how easily I get thrown off mission when life throws a few hurtful words or actions my way. I seem to get stuck in the hurt like quicksand as I let it slowly consume me.

I tend to believe this is a rather common sickness throughout humanity. Most of us remember the one negative comment instead of nine positive ones.

Jesus refuses to be thrown off mission by a betrayal of the highest order. He recognizes the easy and the difficult are all part of His path. He also recognizes His path doesn’t extend very far into the future (on earth) and He needs to communicate a very crucial directive before Calvary. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The next question becomes vital to properly living out the mission God has set forth for each of us: How has Jesus loved us? After all, He clearly said that is how we are to love one another.

Let’s boil it down. He heals us. He tells us to “go and sin no more.” He dies to overcome sin. He rises to overcome death.

In order to love as He did, we must heal one another with our words and actions. We must respond to Christ’s directive by trying to eliminate as much sin as possible and pointing others to Jesus with our lives. We need to die to ourselves for the sake of others. We must bring life to the culture of death.

And we should follow Jesus example in another way: Don’t be thrown off by the negative. Do what must be done and say what must be said… today. Time is fleeting.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.