First Reading: Acts 14:5-18; Psalm: 115. R. v. 1ab; Gospel: Jn 14:21-26

LOVE IS HIS WORD

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

“I love you” is a very common statement in our world today. It is an endearment often used to announce one’s feeling of affection to another. It is easily heard but not often meant as easily said. What however would convince anyone that he/she is truly loved by another are the doings that would trail the just announced feelings of love. When we love someone, we would necessarily prove our love to that person by an action that truly reflects what we feel for that person. These actions are necessary because love is not just a noun but also a verb which is a doing word.

As Jesus prepares to return to his Father, ‘love’ was his parting word to his disciples. The new commandment that they should love one another as he loved them was not just a command. His disciples will have to prove that they love him by keeping this new commandment. “If a man loves me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jn 14:23). This passage explains 1John 4:16. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

When we look at the cross of Jesus, we see love proven in action. In like manner, Jesus is saying to us today that whoever loves him will only prove it by keeping his commandment. And this commandment which Jesus speaks of is nothing other than “love one another even as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). So let us prove our love for Jesus by loving. The moment we stop loving one another, we stop loving God. “If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1Jn 14:20). The message today is very clear. If we say we love God; then we have to prove it. And the only way we can prove it is by loving one another. Not for some moment but always.

 PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to love one another just as you have loved us. Amen.