Fr. Marcel's Bulletin Message for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B, 2009

Brethren, today we celebrate the essence of Christianity. Today, we celebrate summary of Christianity. Today, we celebrate what keeps us going as children of God. Today, we celebrate love. Love is life!

In today’s Gospel taken from John 15: 9-17, Jesus says, “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” Before this, the Lord had said in the Gospel of John 13: 34 “I give you a new commandment: Love one another; just as I have loved you also must love one another.” Now how did Jesus love us? How much has Jesus loved us? The answer is found in 1 John 3:16: “This is the proof of love that he laid down his life for us.” If you want to know how Jesus loved us, just look at the cross. No wonder he said that “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus loved us by dying for us. While we were still sinners, the Lord died for us. With his own life, he paid the ultimate prize and won for us salvation. Today, the same Jesus is asking us to love one another in return. If we must be his true disciples, then we must have to love ourselves. Love makes Jesus known in our world. Love defines us and defines our relationship with Jesus.

But there are four kinds of love easily noticed. There is love for parents (called στέργω- stergo in Greek); there is love for friends, we would say friendship (φιλία- philia in Greek); there is selfish love or erotic love (ε̉ρως-eros in Greek); finally, we have unselfish love, wanting what is the best for the other (α̉γάπη-agape in Greek). But the evangelists used the word agape to describe the love of Jesus and the love he wants us to have for others. But the question is how do we love others in the sense of agape? We find the answer to this question in the Gospels:

1. “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you.” (Matt 7:12)
2. “Love your enemies.” (Matt 5:44) We are not called to like our enemies but to love them. We are to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times (Matt 18:22). Someone has said that forgiveness is the highest form of love. Jesus said we will be known as his disciples by the love we have for one another.
3. “Love one another as I loved you.”

Seen as an acronym, the word LOVE could stand for:

L- Lay down your life for others

O- Offer your life for others and for God

V- Volunteer your time, talent and treasure in the service of humanity

E- Express the fruits of love which are- righteousness, peace, joy, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, obedience, humility, simplicity, friendship, compassion, and hospitality.

Brethren, we were created in love and are called always to love one another. Love brings newness in our life and in the society. Love enthrones the reign of God in our human family. Love makes the whole creation new. It removes crimes, violence and reduces human suffering. It lightens our burden and that of others. In this world of hatred and violence and terrorism, we are called again to love all people as Jesus loved us. There should be no discrimination in love. God is love, and the person who loves is godly.

Dearest beloved, love and you will be saved!