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Dear Parish Family,
Unlike the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke, John's Gospel does not include an institution of the Eucharist narrative; instead, He tells us how Jesus washed his disciples' feet. Immediately after, Jesus predicts his betrayal by Judas. Today's Gospel follows that prediction. It can be read as a continuing explanation of Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet. It begins with the announcement that this is the moment when the Son of Man will be glorified. This theme continues throughout John's Passion. Jesus will be glorified in his death on the cross and in his Resurrection, and the disciples will glorify Jesus in the love they show.
John's Gospel does not present a sentimental view of love. We hear him commanding us, first, "to love one another as He loves us", and second "to love in such a way that others are able to identify or recognize that we are his disciples." How can we love others as Jesus loves? There are several ways which Jesus has given us as example, things that apply to our own everyday lives. Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, our Savior, the sinless, truly divine but he is also truly human. He shows compassion for the sick. He cares for the poor. He feeds the hungry. He is kind to sinners. He comforts the afflicted. He forgives those who are cruel to him. These are a few examples from scripture which we all can follow and obey, so we can love others really like Jesus loves. But we may not be able to love perfectly as Jesus does. To love like Jesus loves, we must place others above ourselves and to daily empty ourselves and emulate the one who did so unconditionally, wholesomely and successfully and it is not easy. Even though we strive to be like Jesus, sometimes we fail. However, we can always rededicate our life to Christ by truly repenting for our sins and by honestly making sacrifices in reparation for them.
The early Christian community exemplified the living-in-love to such a degree that the Acts of the Apostles narrates the response of the pagans about them: “See how they love one another.” Christian love is the hallmark of Christianity. We see it lived in the witness of the martyrs. We see it in the example of the lives of the saints. We see it in the holy women and men who live and love daily, making small and large sacrifices for others. A visit to the frontier missions of the Church bear witness to the fact that the Church continues the compassionate work of Christ for the neediest in very trying circumstances. This is a type of love that is shown in service and sacrifice. It is difficult to choose to love when faced with hatred and anger. Jesus tells the disciples that all will know that they are his disciples because of the love they show for one another.
Fr. Thomas Kunnel