There is an ancient traditional story about the last days of St. John the evangelist, who lived longer than any of the other apostles. He became so feeble that he had to be carried to the meetings of the faith community. Due to his health, John wasn’t able to say much but because he had personally known Jesus, the people always insisted that he say something. Each time, he would say the same thing, “Love one another.” Weary of hearing this advice all the time, his disciples asked him why he never said anything else. In reply, John told them, “This alone is good advice.”
“Love one another” summarizes well the message of John’s gospel. His advice sounds so simple but deep down we know this isn’t easy advice to follow or the world we live in would be very different from what we see.
The gospel passage we hear today is part of the farewell discourse Jesus gave to his disciples at the last supper. His final piece of advice, you might say. Quite simply, he is telling them, “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
But what are these commandments? I do not recall any scene in the gospels where Jesus specifically talks about the Ten Commandments, but we repeatedly find instances which reveal the commandments he is talking about.
Having been very critical of their legalisms, Jesus was not interested in creating a new generation of Pharisees. The commandments he gives are intended to provide a whole new set of values and attitudes toward God, toward others, and toward life itself. If we claim to love Jesus, then we must look at these essentials do’s and don’ts. Imagine then what Jesus would tell us if he were to give us a recap of all that he had shared with his apostles during his earthly ministry.
Don’t return evil for evil. Nothing is achieved through retaliation. Don’t judge your neighbors. No one but God knows all the facts in any case, so leave the judgments to God.
Don’t condemn your neighbors. If we shouldn’t judge them, we shouldn’t pass sentence on them either.
Don’t worry about food, clothes, and shelter as if these were the most important things in life. They will fall into place if you honestly make your relationship with God, not materialism, your first concern.
Likewise, don’t store up treasures for yourselves here on earth. Money, property, and goods can be a hindrance in any relationship, especially your relationship with God.
Don’t give up hope when times are rough and friends can’t be found. Keep on trusting in me and in my Father. Remember, you are loved and that should be enough for you.
Let’s not overlook the do’s, they are as important as the don’ts. Let your light shine before others. If your deeds are good, don’t hide them or apologize for them.
Love your enemies, not just your friends and family because that is easy enough for most anyone to do. To practice kindness toward those you do not like or who have been unkind to you is hard, but that is what true love is all about.
Give to those in need and you will receive abundantly. The name of the game today seems to be “gimme, gimme, gimme,” but that is simply another name for selfishness, which is the death of love.
Forgive anyone who sins against you. Not just in words, but from the heart as well. If you forgive them, then be assured that your heavenly Father has forgiven you.
Take care that your heart and mind are clean and pure. That way, everything that comes from them: your thoughts, your words, your deeds will be clean and pure.
Take this bread and eat it. Take this cup and drink from it. Do this in memory of me. In the Eucharist, you will find the nourishment you need to live as my disciple. Finally, love one another as I have loved you. If you do this, then I know that you indeed do love me.
Actions speak louder than words, so would Jesus see a difference between what you claim to be doing and what you are actually doing? Do you treat the people in you life with respect or abuse? Would you treat Jesus in the manner you treat them? Do you even respect yourself? If not, why not? After all, you are made in the image of God.
Far from saddling us with numerous legalisms, Jesus provides us with sound guidelines for healthy living yet some of us tend to ignore much of what he has to say. The consequence of our reluctance to listen to him is evident by all the woundedness that surrounds us. We cannot honestly consider ourselves to be faithful disciples unless we are really putting into practice his commandment to love one another.
The question we really need to ask ourselves is this: “If I were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?” I hope that question leaves you feeling a bit uneasy. Otherwise, the jury might find you innocent of the charge.