John 13:34

Jesus gives us a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” He does not simply say: love one another, but He qualifies this by saying: “love one another as I have loved you.” He offers Himself as the new standard of love which is why He says that we should love one another as He loves us. If we want truly to love one another the right way, we need to follow the example of Jesus who has shown us how to love. This is the new commandment that He gives us; this is the new way His followers must follow: to love each other they way He loved us.

Jesus answers the age-old question about what is love? Is it sexual love? Is it filial love between parents and children or, is it something greater than both of these? The chosen people followed the old testament laws which numbered over two thousand commandments, the majority of which were negative. Scribes and Pharisees argued over which was the greatest of the commandments. One day a Pharisee asked Jesus a question they had been discussing among themselves: “which is the greatest of the commandments?” Jesus answered him by quoting from the Old Testament: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your mind, heart, and soul; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This, Jesus said, was the greatest command in the Old Testament; and the Pharisee agreed with Him. But, there was something even better: to love as Jesus loved. Never before or since has anyone proposed such a high example of love in the flesh.

The gospel of Jesus, which completes the old testament, is about one thing and one thing only: Jesus. To love one another as He loves us is to love completely. The person who follows Jesus’ example need not worry about doing any- thing wrong for he or she is only following the example of the One who showed us how to love one another. God is love, says St John , and He sent His only begotten Son to show us how to love God, and one another.

Jesus’ example is not pie in the sky: it is not prejudiced; it bows down to the weakest and the most vulnerable in our society. It is without man-made barriers; such as racism, sexism, snobbery, and force. It expresses itself in compassion, meekness, purity of heart, humility, gentleness, unity, kindness, peace of soul, and respect. It is never arrogant, rude, or egotistical. It is always self-effacing because it is based on the example of Jesus who came, not be served, but to serve.

It has been said that Jesus was a man for others. He deserves that title because His whole life was lived in service of His fellow man, and He offered His body on the cross for our redemption. No man or woman has ever demonstrated such Love for human kind. And, that is because Jesus was no mere man.

He is God’s only Son who shows us how to love as the Father loves Him: completely and without limit.

Fr. Hugh Duffy