This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
We know that Jesus summed up the Commandments of God with the priority of loving God above all things, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself (cf. Mk 12:29-31).
On the evening of the Last Supper, the night before Jesus’ death, to which St. John dedicates a disproportionate amount of his gospel, Jesus makes this general Commandment more insistent, urgent, and intimate with His special friends. After telling them what it means to be His friends, in today’s gospel, He gives them His Commandment to them as friends: “Love one another.”
Later, in Jn. 17, throughout the chapter, Jesus prays for His friends: He prays that they be one, as He and the Father are one.
What is the name “Christian” supposed to mean, if not “friend of Jesus”? Thus, to the degree that we seek intimate friendship with Him, His command likewise to us is “Love one another.”
Why, over the centuries and still today, why do we Christians insist on pitting ourselves against one another? Why do we insist on splintering, dividing, separating, pointing fingers, finding fault? Why do we place our differences above our brotherhood?
Why do we do all this, when the ONE thing that Jesus asked for on the night He began His intense suffering, was that we be one in Him?
The answer: Because we treasure our pride above our friendship with Him. Otherwise, our only desire would be to strive mightily to fulfill His highest priority request–indeed, His Commandment.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Filled with sincere sorrow, ask Jesus for forgiveness for all the times when, even in your own mind, you have focused more on the faults of your brother or sister, rather than the opportunity to support them and love them as they are.
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