5^th Sunday of Easter (C); May 18, 2025

Acts 14:21-27.  Ps 145.  Rv 21:1-5.  Jn 13:31-35

Deacon Jim McFadden

            A former teaching colleague of mine, a consecrated religious, had a sign in her classroom which blasted: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  That raises the question: what does it mean to be a Christian?  Jesus puts it quite simply in today’s Gospel from John: “Even as I loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:34).  That’s it! This is the legacy that our Lord has left us, the ultimate criterion  for discerning whether or not we are truly his disciples.  It is the commandment of love.  This simple locution can be broken down into two parts.

         First, “as I have loved you.”  How did Jesus love us?  To the very end, every moment of his human existence, everything he did in thought, word, and deed was a gift of himself to us.  And, what is more remarkable is that he spoke these words on the night of darkness, when the atmosphere in the Upper Room was full of uncertainty, pending doom, and anxiety: they had the sense that Jesus would no longer be with them because he said that one of them would betray him.  The dark clouds were gathering and rather than lash out  with recriminations, rage, conspiracy theories, and impeachability, Jesus instead speaks of love.  And, you know what Jesus did to his betrayer, Judas?  He dipped a morsel and gave it to him, which is a very simple gesture of intimate care.  At the very hour of his betrayal, Jesus reaffirmed his love for his own, even Judas.  Brothers and sisters, amidst the darkness and storms of our own life, let us hold on to the most important thing of our existence: God loves us!

         This message must be the core of our Catholic faith: not that we loved God but that he loved us” (1 Jn 4:10).  Let us never forget this: it doesn’t begin with us—we’re not the ones who are making it happen, but rather the entirety of our life—from conception to natural death—is grounded in the unconditioned, free, and unmerited love of God.  Our faith does not begin with doctrines, rules, good works, but begins with a person, Jesus, who loves us unconditionally before we do anything on our part.  While our secular world tries to convince us that we have value only for what we produce, accumulate, and achieve, the Gospel reminds us of the real truth of our human existence: we are loved!

         A contemporary spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen (Lifeof the Beloved) put it this way: “Long before any human being saw us, we were seen by God’s loving eyes.  Long before  anyone heard us cry or laugh, we were heard by our God, who is all ears for us.  Long before any person spoke to us in this world, we were spoken to by the voice of eternal love.”  God loved us first; he keeps loving us: he will never stop no matter what we say or do.  This is our identity: we are God’s beloved ones.  This is our strength: this is why we “keep on keeping on” because we are loved by God. 

         The love that we receive from God is transformative, which is what we experience at Holy Mass when we receive Holy Communion.  His love transforms our heart and soul because the Person (Body) and Life (Blood)  of Christ enter our very being, which enables us to love.  For this reason, Jesus says, which is the second element, “as I have loved you, so must you love one another.” The term ‘as’ is not just an invitation, but it tells us that we are only able to live this way because he has first loved us, because he pours his Holy Spirit into our hearts, the Spirit of holiness, a loving that heals and transforms us.  As a result, by cooperating and moving with the Spirit, we can make decisions that are Christ-centered; we can perform works of love in every situation—from the mundane to the sublime—especially for our brothers and sisters who come across our path because we are loved and empowered by the Spirit we can love others. 

         The love I share with others—through my time, talent, and resources—is united to the Jesus’ love for me.  It’s this Loop of Grace, which I share with others.  “As” he loved me, so I can love others.  The Christian life is that simple.  Let’s not make it complicated.  As Yoda said in the Star Wars franchise: “Do or do not; there is no in-between.” 

         Practically, speaking what does this look like?  We had a visual lesson on Holy Thursday with the Washing of the Feet.  Then after he did that, he sacrificed himself on the Cross.  To love means to serve others and to give one’s life. To serve, that is, not to put our own egoic self-interest first, but to rid ourselves of greed, hyper-competitiveness, indifference, and self-absorption.  Our question should be: not what’s in it for me, but “What I should do for others?” 

         Then “to give one’s life” means to give our very lives away in self-giving generosity.  If you have been blessed with Holy Orders, live out your commitment with joy.  If you’re married, be holy by loving your spouse and your children.  If you are single or working for a living, be holy by living a life with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters, by fighting for justice.  If you are in a position of authority, use your power to bring people together by working for the Common Good and renouncing personal gain (cf. Gaudete et Exsultate, 14).  This is the Way of Christianity, and it’s so simple: to see Jesus always in others. 

         People of God, as St. Carlo Acutis, the  teenage patron saint of the Internet, used to say, “Holiness is always “original.”  We are not a photocopy of someone else, but we convey Jesus to others through the uniqueness of who we are.  The Lord has a plan of love for each one of us. He is the Way.  Let us pursue this dream with joy. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  What would be the verdict for you?
2. Do you have the sense that God has first loved you, which is why your are drawn to be in relationship with God?
3. In your ‘I-thou’ relationship with Jesus, do you give your life away: do you share your time, talent, and resources with your brothers and sisters?