It is said that the apostle John, in his old age, was so weak that someone would have to carry him to meetings. At the end of the meetings, someone would help him stand for his exhortation. Invariably, he would say, “Little children, let us love one another.” His disciples growing weary of hearing him say the same words, repeatedly asked him why he did it. He replied, “Because it is the Lord’s commandment, and if only this is said, it is enough.”
St. John calls us to commit to love. He reminds us that God gives His life to us through our rebirth in Christ. And he asserts that if we are children of a God whose very nature is love, we ought to love one another! “We ought to love one another” implies that we must make a voluntary commitment to love.
If everyone were easy to love, we wouldn’t need this strong exhortation to commit to love. While love is the inevitable result of being born of God, exercising it doesn’t happen spontaneously.
To love those who are not lovable or not easy to love requires a commitment. A husband or a wife can be self-centered and challenging to live with. But, John says, “If God so loved you, you also ought to love him or her.” There may be a family member, colleague, or neighbor whom we do not like. But John says, “If God so loved you, you also ought to love him or her.” So, when we have trouble loving someone, remember that God loved us even though we are unworthy of his love.
The life of Christ and the Scriptures reveal love as a self-sacrificing, caring commitment that shows itself in seeking the highest good for the other. It is a delightful commitment that involves caring. Prudently, loving or caring for the other does not mean submitting to others’ will or doing what others want. It means we must make wise decisions and implement them according to the promptings of the Spirit. Therefore, love is not always tender or indulgent. As we see in Jesus, it can mean gentle acceptance of the fallen or driving the money changers out of the temple court.
God is love, love that cares, bears, and shares. That’s the love to which Christians must commit. And then, God’s amazing love will shine forth.
If God so loved us, shouldn’t we work at loving one another?
- Father Jilson's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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