LOVE ONE ANOTHER

REFLECTION FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

THEME: LOVE ONE ANOTHER

R1: Acts 14:21-27, 

R2: Rev 21:1-5, 

Gospel: John 13:31-35_

Traditionally, the last words and will of a dying person are usually being taken seriously. The readings of today are built on the stage of last wish and end time.  In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas, approaching the end of their first missionary journey, being moved by love visited the communities they had founded to encourage them. The second reading gives us a picture of beautiful city we shall dwell in at last if we persevere in our love for God till the end. In the gospel, Jesus, just before his agony and passion gives us his last wish: “Love one another,” this will be the sign by which we shall be known as his disciples.  The central theme that runs through the three readings is, “LOVE.”Love is one of the most mentioned words daily. Its application and usage always differ from people’s understanding. However, the readings of today clarify Jesus’ intention. Therefore, we have the following lesions:

*1. Love: The Hard Truth:*

 In a time and in a world where the word “Love”, has been bastardised and where we may not want to offend our loved ones by telling them what they may not want to hear, the first reading of today clarifies Jesus’ intention of love one another and what we must do.

The disciples; Paul and Barnabas, having established some Christian communities, and these communities having experienced the tremendous works and miracles accomplished through these peoples, told them the hard truth, “We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). This is the reality many people would not want to hear.

It is common to tell our loved ones sweet things and sweet words, however, avoiding telling them the reality of how things are means we do not understand fully the meaning of love. Love is leading our friends to the truth, that, even though we may experience many good works from God as the early Christian communities did, we should also be ready to face the other side of the coin; persecution, hatred, rejection faces, betrayal and even hardship. These things surely accompany our discipleship. When we profess this truth, we are encouraging and preparing our loved ones for the journey ahead, that, nothing good comes easy, that the road to success is never easy and that it is only after the cross that the crown will come. This clarifies one of the intentions of Christ, and the aim is for us to persevere in faith.

*2. Love: The New World:*

 It is the dream of everyone, both Christians and none Christians to have a world where we shall experience an absolute peace, free from corruption, war, violence, sickness, natural disaster and so on. The second reading of today tells us that such a world can be possible and this possibility has a divine connection, “I saw the holy city...coming down from God” (Rev 21:2).

This vision of John presents before us two possibilities, the vertical and the horizontal.

 *(a)The horizontal possibility:*

 we can attain this beautiful city ONLY when we truly display the character expected of us as Christians, that through which a disciple of Christ is known. This character is love. Love is the only the thing that can make things have a new look. When love is active, what are rotten will spring up to new life.  If we love others the way we love ourselves then there will be no war, violence and corruption in the world. The love that can make this possible is that love that is sacrificial. It is the love we give without expecting anything in return. Putting up this attitude of love is the understanding of the biblical verse that God lives among human being and He will make His home among us (Rev 21:3). And this is the fulfilment of the new commandment, love one another. It is this condition that will make us Disciples of Christ (Jn 13:35). Love is the badge we must wear. It is the identity we carry. It is the image of God upon which we are created.

 *(b) The vertical possibility:* since the horizontal dimension may be difficult because of the dubious nature of mankind, since we sometimes receive the opposite of the love we give out to others, it is God who will reward all those who have been faithful to following this His command to love even when it hurts. The reward will be, a new city, the heavily Jerusalem where our sorrows and pains will be wiped away. There, all the things we pass through for being His lovers and dispensers of love will be forgotten and we shall become the people of a new creation.

May God help us to be true dispensers of love, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

*FR CHUKWUEMEKA VINCENT LIVINUS, SMMM.*