Gospel: John 15:12-17
This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you! There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends; and you are my friends, if you do what I command you.I shall not call you servants anymore, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead, I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father.You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.This is my command, that you love one another.

Reflections
“Love one another as I have loved you!”The commandment of love seems to be easy and romantic. Looking deeper at what is in- volved in loving can be scary. Love seeks to give benefit to the other person. One must also be willing to receive the gestures of love of the other. It is reciprocal. Now it is not only about giving affection or justice, sharing a portion of your time and resources, but also it is offering all that you have, your life. Love is actually martyrdom. It is not wishy washy. You die for your friend with nothing left for yourself, not even a breath. That is the greatest love according to Jesus. Jesus will show that it is possible when he suffers and dies on Mount Calvary. It is just a mat- ter of time that he accomplishes these things for his friends.Loving to the point of death is possible only if we have deve- loped friendship. We cannot die for our friends who are dear to us. To make real friends is as difficult as dying for them. If we feel it is not possible, because we have no real friends, we have to examine again what kind of hearts do we have.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019