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Theo Tigno•
5/13/2010 11:21 pm
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Friday in the Sixth Week of Easter |
John 15: 9-17
Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 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, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for healing for Abe and Chie.
When I was a child, making friends seemed much easier and much more natural. We were the oddest group, but we were friends. As I grew older, friendships started to have qualifications, and it became harder and harder to love my neighbor.
A few weeks ago, I had a frightening thought: the people I tend to [distance myself from / get irritated with in the grocery store line / just would rather they stay off of the road] may one day be worshiping God alongside with me (if I make it) in heaven. Even more than that, I am missing an opportunity to have God reveal Himself to me today because I have denied His presence in my neighbor.
I have been guilty of judging others in my heart, and in judging, closing myself off to the gifts that they may have to offer. Does this person make me "feel" affirmed? Does this person drain me? Does this person feed my ego?
"Love one another as I love you." How does God love me? I love the story of the woman caught in adultery. After pointing to the truth of her accuser's hearts, He gave her back her freedom. Jesus forgave His persecutors and betrayers. Jesus gave Peter a chance after his denial of knowing Christ.
We know that God loves us, and throughout the scriptures and traditions of the Church, we can see how.
Let us come to know Christ more in this way so that we can learn to love each other without the lens of our fallen nature, but rather through the lens of His divine nature. Take care and God Bless.
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