Walking with Jesus: Sixth Sunday of Easter B

For Sunday, May 5, 2024

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

We have traveled many miles, been in many places, met a vast number of people, been influenced by many, and accepted numerous special ones into our category of friends. Now reflect on this: What qualities — attributes — goodnesses — do I have to label them as friends? (Remember that we further categorize friends as important, close, special, best.)

The readings today describe God not in terms of some outside power that forces itself on a person, but an inner state that happens inside a believer. We often do that ourselves, unconsciously, in our years of attendance at Church and church events when we notice specialness in certain people. There just seems to be something special about them that separates them from others. We think about this … observe them when possible … and possibly get to know them. A number of years ago, one person said to me: “They just seem to have God within them … and God just shines through them.” This is a great description.

John today describes this inner state that exudes such love and joy in a believer when it happens. “God sent HIs only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him. In this is love; not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as expiation for our sins.” [1 John 4:10] So what does this mean for us today? God in His love sent His Son, Jesus, to us. Simply put, love is what Jesus has done for us. He showed this, talked about it, proved it and died for you and me to make us aware of God’s total, unconditional love, and God has promised heaven to all who believe in Him and follow the commandments — all of which are about love. This is what we must do for each other in every situation we find ourselves. We try; sometimes we're successful, sometimes we fail. The unique revelation from God to us is that the specialness we see in certain people is God’s love shining through them — reminding you and me to love, be joyful, believe, have faith. How am I doing in this? How are you doing in this? Just as Jesus did for us, love must mean accepting a certain amount of responsibility for the people God has placed in our lives: those who are close, those we see less often, and even those I don’t see or don’t know but are hurting and need a whole bunch of prayers.

In the first reading from Acts, a newly converted Roman centurion named Cornelius recognizes Peter as a messenger of God. Peter insists he is only a messenger, not a god. Now normally, as is shown earlier in Acts, Peter would not enter the home of a Gentile. He even states this in his opening response: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.” [Acts 10:34] So therefore neither should Peter nor any of us. All are acceptable to God — Jew and Gentile, man and woman, at all times, in all places, of all cultures. All have been created in love to be love to others so that all can love and go to heaven.

In John’s short letter we have what I feel is one of the most profound explanations of the meaning of Christian faith and the need to live always in love. Several dimensions of love are listed: God is love … God loves us … we are created in love … Jesus, the Son of God, proved God’s love by His sacrifice on the cross … God’s love … the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the most fundamental theological reality. There is nothing human about love; it is divine in origin, and only those begotten by God can have a share in it. So all are called to live out this divine love as God does and as Jesus did.

The Gospel puts everything together in Jesus’ words: “As the Father loves Me, so I also love you … this is my commandment, love one another as I love you.” [John 16:9,12] Then comes the special part, telling each of us how God feels about you and me: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends. …” [John 16:13-15] The most wonderful, unlimited immenseness of God’s love is seen in the faith that God loves us even before we were deserving of God’s love. In other words, God loves us so we can love. WOW. PRAISE GOD. What could be more wonderful? God does this all the time, every minute of every day.

So I reflect on:

• Looking back on my childhood and remembering special friends, what qualities did they have that speak to me — even today — of intimacy with God?
• What about my friends today? How might cultivating a deep friendship here help to deepen my friendship with Christ?

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“Jesus lived and taught love by His own example of total self-giving. He laid down His life for us, His friends. May we imitate Him in being people for others, reaching out to them in Jesus’ name.

“It is the Lord who chose us and calls us His friends. We are to serve in the spirit of love, putting others before ourselves. Lord, may we have the humility to ask for what we need so that we bear fruit to the glory of Your name.”