5th SUNDAY OF EASTER-C
I Reading: Acts 14:21-27:
They gave an account to the Church of all that God had done with them.
II Reading:
Apocalypse 21:1-5: God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Gospel: John
13:31-35: I give you a new commandment: love one another.
The Departure
of Jesus From This World, 13:31-38
What kind of Christian
community does the Risen Lord want us to be? How can we love God and our
neighbors?
Jesus told his disciples
after the washing of feet in the last supper, “I give you a new command: Love
one another. Just I have loved you. You also love one another.” Jn 13:34
What kind of love is Jesus
talking about?
It is a serving love: I did
not come to be served but serve people.
It is merciful love: Jesus
had compassion and mercy seeing the crowd who were without food and drink.
Jesus had mercy and compassion for the poor, sick, suffering, widow, sinners,
tax collectors, etc.
It is a total commitment and
dedication to love: I (the good shepherd) lay down my life for my sheep at any
cost to save the life of each sheep.
It is agape love(selfless,
total love, the highest love): Jesus loved the people selflessly without any
expectation from people.
It is a forgiving love: Jesus
on the cross said, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what are they
doing?”
By your love, they will come
to know that you are my disciples.
The risen Christ calls us to
be faithful to the covenant we signed with him at Baptism, to proclaim the Good
News to the people, to be committed to love one another whatever the cost, to
share the joys and sorrows of our Christian brothers and sisters and finally to
go through life joyfully with God to our permanent home heaven. Jesus as our
good leader himself leads us on our way home. Let us experience the love of
Jesus and love our brothers and sisters unconditionally as God loved us.
The death and
departure of Jesus from the world were most significant.
1. Jesus’ death brought a
threefold glory (v.31-32)
a. The Son of Man’s glory:
The Cross
b. God’s glory: Jesus’
obedience
c. Jesus’ glory: The
Resurrection
2. Jesus’ death demanded a
new commandment (v.33-35)
a. The reason: His departure
from the earth
b. The new commandment: To
love as Jesus loved
c. The mark of true
discipleship: Love
3. Jesus’ death revealed
stumbling loyalty (v.36-38)
a. Cause 1: Misunderstanding
Jesus’ death
b. Cause 2: Carnal commitment
Thought: How many make the same mistake
about the cross? Misunderstanding the cross and Jesus as the exalted Lord (as
opposed to His being just as a great teacher) causes stumbling and faltering
faith. (1Cor 1:18, 23; 2Cor 4:3-5)
No comments:
Post a Comment