Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 2, 2010
 
In today’s first reading, we continue the Acts of the Apostles’ symbolic and idyllic description of the spread of the Gospel, following Paul and Barnabas in their travels through present-day Turkey back to Antioch in Syria.  Of special importance is the reception of the word by the Gentiles.
 
The passage from Revelation offers a vision of new and transformed life at the end of time. In this new Jerusalem, God will wipe away every tear.
 
Our reading of John’s gospel now moves to the Farewell Discourse, John’s long musings on the identity of Jesus and on the meaning of the life of faithful discipleship. Here we focus on the very heart of it all—love.
 
Let’s listen to God’s word!
 
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“Love one another.” Profoundly simple.  Simply profound.
 
John’s Jesus is speaking to the Johannine community at the end of the first century, a community that has suffered misunderstanding and alienation, even from other Christians. As so John’s Jesus emphasizes love as the basis for the community.  Indeed, as this passage proclaims, the very life of the community—this love for one another—flows from the divine revelation through Jesus.  “Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other.”
 
Love one another. What does this mean for us this Easter season?  Surely, the everyday-but-very-real demands and invitations to love: nurturing and nourishing our children; caring for and suffering with ill family members or friends; enjoying beauty and goodness; celebrating the risen Jesus in our midst.  We know that such ordinary love can be both life-giving and at times very challenging.
 
Yet, another gospel, Matthew, has Jesus offering an even greater challenge, one of remarkable inclusivity: love your enemies.  Who are our enemies?  Perhaps someone in our family or neighborhood or workplace?  Perhaps someone in politics, the church, or in some distant land?  Jesus calls us to this radical love that seems to make no sense at all.
 
Love one another. John of Patmos has God speak in today’s passage from Revelation:  See, I make all things new.  How might your responding to Jesus’ commandment help God create something new in you?