Reflections for the Week

The Practice of Love

A distinguishing mark of Jesus’ disciples is their practice of love. Jesus gave this as a new commandment and badge at the Last Supper, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35).
Many things mark us as Christians and as Catholics: the sign of the cross, the Mass and other sacraments, our prayers and songs, our liturgical celebrations, our churches and places of worship - all inspired by Scripture and tradition. But at the heart of all this and what holds all things together is the commandment of love: love of God and love of neighbour; love as Jesus loves us. Without love, all things fall apart.
The apostle Paul is emphatic: “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing”
(1 Cor 13:1-3).
Early Christians were slandered as haters of men, scum of the earth, even cannibals. The emperor Nero burned Rome and placed the blame on Christians, dressed them with animal skins, and fed them to the wild beasts in the arena. He burned them to light his imperial garden at night. Yet, pagans who came to know Christians were struck by them: “See how they love one another!”
When calamities and plagues struck a city, the pagans would flee for dear life, abandoning the sick and the dead. Christians, on the other hand, would remain and attend to the sick, and so saved those who would have easily died. They were not afraid to face death because of their belief in the risen Lord and their hope for the reward hereafter. Consequently, they not only survived but also converted many pagans to the faith. More than anything else, the practice of love led to the rapid spread of Christianity.

God’s Word Fr Gil Alinsangan SSP

No Excuses

What would you say if you knew you had only one day left to live? The last words of a dying person tell us what they are most concerned about and what is most important to them. When Jesus told his disciples to love one another, he knew he didn’t have much time left. So this “new commandment” must have meant the world to him (Jn 13:34).
Did Jesus know his apostles were all sinners? Did he know they all had personal weaknesses? Of course he did! Nonetheless, he commanded them, as well as us, to do the one thing that sin, weakness, and selfishness find very hard: love one another. Why is this so important to Jesus? Because as far as he is concerned, people matter most.
So let’s not make any excuses. Let’s not hold back our love or give it only to the people who are like us. If Jesus had loved only those who thought the way he thought, then Peter, Mary Magdalene, John and James would all have been left out in the cold.
Let’s also not allow the wrongs done to us keep us from loving. If Jesus had held onto everything that was done to him, he would have found no reason to sacrifice himself on the cross. But he put aside the desire for revenge and chose instead to live in love - the deepest and greatest love we will ever know.
Love makes all the difference, and Jesus knows that. He knows that all the sin in the world and all the divisions that come from sin came about because love was either misplaced or lost. And so Jesus asks us to love so that we can undo the reign of sin.
Nowhere is this call to love more vital than in our own families. “Without family,” Pope Francis has said, “life grows empty.” So today, decide to make a difference in your family by expressing your love. Don’t let disagreements get the upper hand. Try to bring people together. If we can just express love and kindness at home, we’ll see challenges melt away!
“Jesus, reduce me to love!”

The Word Among Us www.wau.org

Responsibilities

Being a disciple of Jesus brings with it a certain identity and with this identity there are certain responsibilities. The primary responsibility is to follow the commandment of Jesus to love as he has loved. What follows is the practice of prayer which strengthens us. The other responsibilities include the readiness to accept suffering and hardships with the right spirit and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus wherever possible. And then there is the challenge to serve the community. Fulfilling these responsibilities ensures the recognition of each one of us as a disciple of Jesus. What efforts am I making to be recognised as a disciple of Jesus?

God’s Word Fr Reuben Tellis

If

If you want to be distressed, look within.
If you want to be defeated, look back.
If you want to be distracted, look around.
If you want to be dismayed, look before.
If you want to be delivered, look to Christ.
If you want to be delighted, look up.
If you want to be happy, look after others.
- Anon