"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
This is our new commandment, and it carries lots of implications.
In context, this commandment comes right after Jesus tells his disciples that they will not be able to go with him and that they will be looking for him. I like the context because it really puts the teaching into perspective. We can repeat to each other that this is the golden rule, or that it is the greatest commandment, and we can even quote it verbatim, but it will mean nothing if we don't actually live it. Sure, we may not be able to find the earthly body of Jesus, but we will no less find Jesus every time we show our love for one another, for God is love. Love is the only way we will be able to experience God in every moment of our lives. It is our lack of love that separates us from God.
Those around us will know that we are Jesus' disciples when we love our neighbors. Those around us will know that we have studied Jesus, that we have been taught by Jesus, only when we show our love for one another - a love that goes very deep, a love that is unconditional, a love that serves others. Our sign for being a student of Jesus doesn't come in the form of a paper we get to hang on our office walls. It is not a series of shirts with our favorite bible verses on them. It's not a bible with gilded edges and a leather binding. Our sign is our love. Jesus has shown us how to live our lives out of love.
And what better way to show a sign of our relationship with Christ than showing Christ himself before everybody around us? When we show our love, we show God. When we feel love, we feel God. When we stop loving, we stop showing God. During these next four days, our churches will usually use the most visuals during Mass. These visuals will definitely help us engage more with God, but the ultimate message is still there: to love one another as Jesus loved us. During this latter half of Holy Week, try to meditate on the unconditional love that Jesus has shown us. Allow for all of his teachings grow in you. Allow yourself to become a practicing student of Jesus Christ.
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