New Commandment
New Commandment
Sixth Sunday of Easter we go further into the Last Supper discourse. Last Sunday we had the famous image of the vine and the branches from the Gospel of John 15. This Sunday we have a continuation of the Gospel, Commandment of Love. John 15 emphasizing the commandment of love and inviting us to remain in, abide, and dwell in his love.
The New Commandment of Love summarizes the messages of the entire Gospel. This command to love as Christ loves challenges us to imitate and follow him closely. Christ must become our internal guide how we live and what we do. The Beatitude elaborates on the meaning of the New Commandment (Matthew 5). Catechism of the Catholic Church 459 states that “The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me." "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: "Listen to him!" Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: "Love one another as I have loved you." This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.”
In the Last Supper discourse Jesus tells them over and over the need of being united with him – remaining his love. Jesus looks at the Good Friday and beyond, and prepares them for that moment. Jesus told them they were called to love, joy, and friendship.
Jesus told them, “I have called you friends.” In the Old Testament often called a servant. Deuteronomy 34:5 “So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said.” Psalm 89:21, “I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.” We see an exception in 2 Chronicles 20:7, “Was it not you, our God, who dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?” In the Gospel, Jesus told them that they are friends because among friends there is mutual sharing. The promise of intimacy with Jesus is conditional because Jesus demands them/us to keep his commandment and remain in his love. The fullest expression of love consists in pouring out our lives to God as Jesus did on the cross (1 Jn 3:16).
In the first reading, we see the struggle of the early Church. The questions were raised in the early church, who can receive baptism, do they have to be circumcised, and so on. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, while Apostle Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on Jews as well as gentiles. Then Peter raised a question, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” Then Peter ordered and they received the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. The spirit of love unified them and everyone embraced the faith. We see in chapter 11, a Pentecost experience for gentiles (11:15). Peter says here it was as in the first event: spirit descended in a dramatic way (2:17) and the recipient spoke in different tongues (2:4) and a call for Baptism (2:38-41).
The second reading from 1 John 4:710 tells that God is love. In the first letter John tells us “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.” Love incarnated and invites us to remain in his love.
This Sunday’s reading reminds us that love is the key to everything. God created us out of love. God sent his Son to reveal Father’s love for us, and God wants us to remain in his love and live with him forever. Every Mass he shares with his love in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Let us remain his love!