This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
“Remain in my love.” If we follow His Commandments, we will remain in His love. So Jesus tells us in today’s gospel.
In the first reading, we see the early Church striving to do just that: Remain in His love, by keeping His Commandments.
Some of the believers focus on the Jewish Law–of which, as Jesus said, no letter or portion of a letter will ever be abolished (cf. Mt. 5:18). According to that Law, new believers should be circumcised.
St. Peter makes an impassioned plea, however, for new Gentile believers not to be burdened with the onus of circumcision–since they have received the Holy Spirit without having met this demand.
So, how is the Church to obey Jesus’ Commandments in this circumstance? How is it to remain in His love?
It turns out, the joyful truth is that remaining in Jesus’ love means welcoming every person, without conditions of culture or national social norms. As Jesus predicted in the Gospel, all sorts of people from all the byways would be welcomed to the wedding feast. Still, they would be thrown right out again if they failed to put on the “wedding garment” of belief in Him, and of His new Law of Charity.
The fruit of the new Commandment of Jesus, to love God and our fellow humans, is beautifully captured in today’s psalm, which captures the joy of welcoming the Gentiles into the flock of Christ: God’s marvelous deeds are proclaimed to all the nations.
So, how do we remain in Jesus’ love? How do we keep His Commandments? Through self-sacrificing love for our brothers and sisters, especially in all that favors their salvation in Christ.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to help you to live a life of selfless service, in obedience to His New Commandment. Ask Him to give you the wisdom to see past human customs and traditions to the heart of what His Law of selfless love requires of you.
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