Gospel of John 13:31-33a, 34-35
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Gospel of John that we just heard, for this Fifth Sunday of Easter, contains some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples and each of us before He entered into His Passion. Through these words, Jesus reminds us that we must love one another. He desires love to be the guiding principle of our lives. I’m sure many of us have heard this commandment countless times, but have we ever paused to ask ourselves why we need to love one another? This is an important question because exploring it helps us understand more profoundly what Jesus is inviting us to do and also reveals more clearly who we are and who God is.
When we ask, "Why do we need to love others?", the simplest answer is: because it is God’s commandment. This is true! Jesus Himself said in today’s Gospel, "I give you a new commandment: love one another." However, if we view love merely as a command or a rule to follow, it can feel burdensome and challenging. We might feel as if we are just checking off boxes rather than living with a joyful heart.
The reason we love others is that we were created in love by God. God made each of us out of love, and throughout our daily lives, we are nourished and supported by His love and protection. In the Old Testament, God tells us, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you" (Jeremiah 1:5), and "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3). These beautiful words remind us that we are people of love, living and walking in the grace of God. Love is the foundation of our lives. That is why we are called to love, forgive, and serve one another—not just as a command we must follow, but because love is intrinsic to who we are. When we experience God’s love deeply in our hearts, love naturally flows from within us.
To deepen and affirm this understanding of love, let’s look to the Cross where Jesus hung. He was there not out of necessity, but out of choice—out of love. He willingly gave His life on the Cross so that we could be saved from sin. His heart was pierced out of love, and from His heart came the water that cleanses us in baptism. Through baptism, our sins are washed away, and we become children of God, who is Love. Each day, we are nourished by His love through the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, with this perspective, we can confidently say that we are people of love; we are men and women who were born, saved, and sanctified by God’s love. Loving one another is not merely something we should try to do; it is our way of life. We love, forgive, and serve others not for any other reason than that we have deeply experienced God’s eternal love for us.
However, we are also aware that in today’s world, conflicts and divisions still arise. These unfortunate occurrences happen on a global scale between nations and on a personal level between individuals. Often, in conflicts, it is not only weapons that inflict harm, but also our words. Sometimes, for various reasons, we speak in ways that wound others, creating distance and pain within families, communities, and parishes.
To overcome such conflicts, we are called to return to God, who is Love. By reconnecting with God’s love, we are nourished, supported, and transformed into witnesses of love for those around us. Let us pray for one another so that we may truly live this way of love, not only today but every day. In doing so, the glory of God will shine through us. As Jesus said, "By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." Amen.
Deacon An Nguyen Thanh、SJ