8 May 2015 - Greatest commandment

Friday of the 5th Week of Easter

GOSPEL: John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples:
"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."

Reflection:

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us to love one another. V may find it very easy. V think that v can love 1 another very easily.

Bt as I ponder over this more, I realize that how difficult it is to love. How can I love my enemies? How can I love those who cause pain to others?  How can I love when I am hurt by others? 

These r nt easy questions to deal with, yet Jesus loved all. He has set an example b4 us & called us all His friends. Jesus had a loving friendship with all of His disciples & v are called into this loving friendship with God.

Today, Jesus is teaching us to love one another as He loved. He speaks abt d sacrificial love (He died for us on d Cross) - Laying down our lives for others, meaning - when v love others it shd cause us pain. We all accept d love that others give us, but r v as quick to give that love as v r to receive it?

God loves us all, no matter hw bad v r, hw sinful v r. His love is unconditional. And in order to love others v need to experience His love in our lives. As St Paul wrote, "If I have no love, I am nothing (1 Cor 13:2)."

May ur love b always upon us O Lord, so that v may b able to express d same love to others.

Jesus loves u. Hv a lovely day ahead. God bless.

💐💙Wt love....Fr Robin, Powai💙💐