John 13: 31-33a, 34-35
I
give you a new commandment; love one another. As I have loved you, so you also
should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.
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Sometimes I am asked,
what do I need to do to be a Christian? I have found this to be an amusing
question. The Christian faith is not really as complicated as some seem to
think. Today’s Gospel is one of the simplest examples of Christianity in
practice. How do I live as a Christian? How do I love God?
When
I write, speak, or have interaction with anyone, I have certain check points
that I use to insure that I am following Christ’s teachings. This is certainly
one of them. Another would be Mk, 12; 29-31 and of course the Golden Rule Mat, 7;12.
Using these scriptures, and others, helps me to quickly discover my failings.
Let
me clarify this just a little, how we love God through Christ is pretty simple.
However, actually loving God by following this teaching is anything but simple,
or easy. When someone cuts us off in traffic our first reaction isn’t usually
to offer him/her the peace and love of Christ. This usually comes next, if at
all. Practice does make perfect or at least perfect practice make perfect. This
challenge of Christ to put ourselves second to others is a lifelong challenge. This
challenge extends throughout our lives because we will not know this perfect
love until we have been accepted by God into the kingdom of heaven.
The
challenge to love God by loving each other is an immense challenge. Our Christ
has given us a place in heaven; it is our responsibility to maintain our place
by following these commands challenged to us by this same Christ.
May the peace and love of Christ that also gives
us the strength to follow him, be with you always.
Scripture is from the NABRE
by David E. Gonzales
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