Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another

On Sunday one of our congregation gave this homily, reminding us of the commandment of Jesus: LOVE ONE ANOTHER

[Jesus said:] I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

The words of the Danish theologian, Soren Kierkegaard – came to mind as I thought about today’s Gospel reading. He said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” These words also came to mind as I awaited with millions around the world to see who the white smoke was announcing as the new pope.

Cardinal Prevost had been considered by the ‘expert’ opinions, as only a remotely possible contender. He was a cardinal born in the USA, was an Augustinian monk who spent two decades ministering to the poor in Peru before becoming Bishop, then managing the office of bishops in the Vatican. He wasn’t Italian, or even European. He was American, and the Cardinals were unlikely to select an American, given the prominence of America in the affairs of the world. But looking back, he truly checks the boxes of need of the Catholic church of the future.

o He expresses humility and service, believing that church leaders should be humble, walk with the people and suffer with them.

o He brings a global perspective, bringing with him experience in multiple cultural contexts and emphasizing, even with his first words of blessing, “Peace be with you.”

o He is a good listener and encourages discussion, while being very well spoken in five languages, and quite able to speak truth to power.

o He has managerial skill from managing the office of bishops.

o He, like Pope Francis, show care and love for the poor, the displaced, the marginalized.

Looking back, his election only makes sense.

We are reading this story during the Easter season, after Jesus has died and been raised from the dead. This Gospel reading tells us of an event that took place just before that first Easter. We are reading, in a sense, what the disciples did, what the Gospel writer did, looking back and reflecting on what they saw and heard, and fixing what they witnessed in the corporate memory. We are looking back at what Jesus did in his life on earth, in the light of his death and resurrection. Looking back, his call and life only makes sense.

Today’s Gospel Reading (John 13:31-35)

In today’s gospel reading, we go back to the night that Jesus was betrayed. We do this to think again about Jesus’ teaching on love. Because his teaching on love is a foundational shift in the practices of his time.

It is important to recall when and where Jesus said these things. Sometimes, when and where we say something is just as important to the meaning as the actual words that we say. John 13 begins in the upper room. Jesus is there with all of his disciples.

o Thomas, who will doubt the resurrection is there.

o Peter, who will deny knowing Jesus after he is arrested, is there.

o And Judas, who will betray Jesus and hand him over to those wanting to kill him, is there.

o And Jesus, knowing everything that is about to come in the days ahead, washes each of their feet.

Washing a person’s feet in that culture was the appointed task of a servant. Jesus was humbling himself, and doing the work of a servant here. But stop to think about what that means now, looking back. Jesus washed Judas’s feet, knowing he would betray him. He washed Peter’s feet, knowing that Peter would deny knowing him. He washed Thomas’s feet, knowing Thomas would doubt him. Jesus knew all this would happen. He predicted it. But he still got on his knees and washed their feet.

If you want a picture of love, picture Jesus on his knees, washing the feet of his betrayer, Judas. What love. And Jesus tells us that this is what we need to do for one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another

Love According to Jesus

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”

We might wonder, what’s new about it? The commandment to love wasn’t new, of course. It’s mentioned often in the Old Testament. The greatest commandment is to love God, and the next is to love our neighbor. These are repeated often in the Old Testament. They are not new. But Jesus’ commandment is. What’s new about it? Not love … but rather, loving just as Jesus loved.

The new part of this is that we are commanded to love one another just as Jesus has loved us. And that means loving those who doubt us, and deny knowing us, and even those who betray us. Because that’s what Jesus did for us. He loved us, and loves us, even when we doubt him, deny him, or betray him. And now, simply put, he tells us to do the same for others.

It’s not always easy. But it is important. It is commanded, and it should be done.

Looking back at Jesus’ life in this Easter season, what can we learn from him about love? If we are to love him as he loved us, what does that mean? And I want to lift up three specific ways that we can do this, that we can love in the same way that Jesus loved.

First, Love Without Expectation

Jesus teaches us to love without expecting anything in return. When Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, it is not in the hopes that they will return the favor. He washes their feet with the knowledge that they would soon abandon him, and that he will die alone on the cross. His love is unconditional, with no strings attached. He loves demonstrating God’s love for us, and showing us what that love looks like.

This is so different from how our world works that it’s hard to even get our head around. Our material world is full of expectation. If I do this, then that should happen. But one thing about loving without expectation is that it is actually very freeing. It is easier to love without keeping score. It’s easier to love without hoping to get something in return. It’s very freeing. But even if it was not easier to love in this way, it still would be necessary. Because Jesus teaches us that this is what true love looks like.

“If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” Jesus noted. “Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” Loving those who love us is what everyone does. Loving those who don’t love us is what Christians do.

And by this, the world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples, if we love unconditionally, without a scorecard, and without expecting a single thing in return.

Second, Be Vulnerable

The word “vulnerable” literally means “able to be wounded.” When we are vulnerable, we open ourselves up to the possibility of being wounded. And that is exactly what Jesus teaches us – that we should open ourselves up to one another in love, even if it opens us up to the possibility of being wounded.

That’s what Jesus did, right? Jesus loved Judas, who betrayed him. He loved Peter, who denied knowing him. He loved Thomas, who doubted him. He loved those who abandoned him, and even those who crucified him. Jesus loved in a way that opened him up to these wounds. And he teaches us to do the same.

To love is to be vulnerable, to give someone your heart while saying to yourself, ‘I know this could hurt so bad, but I’m willing to do it.’ God created us to be in relationship with God and with one another. We were created for love and for belonging and for community. And when we reject these things, there is always suffering. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God, by suffering for us. And he came to show us how to love. And loving in the way he taught us, makes us vulnerable. It opens our hearts. Which is risky. But open hearts are the kind that can be filled with God’s love.

Third, Love Those Not Like Us

“Love one another,” Jesus said, “just as I have loved you.” Loving in this way is without expectation. It makes us vulnerable. And it also leads us to love people who are not like us. Jesus loved people who were not like him.

o He loved people who disagreed with him.

o He loved people who looked at the world very differently from him.

o There is no one that Jesus did not love.

It doesn’t mean that he didn’t challenge them, or get frustrated with them, or even occasionally rebuke them. Jesus showed examples of all of these very human qualities, yet he loved them, no matter what, and teaches us to do the same.

The old commandment, from Leviticus, is to love our neighbor as our self. But the new commandment, from Jesus, is to love even those who are not our neighbors.

o Jesus loved lepers, who were regarded at that time to be unclean and unloved by God.

o Jesus loved tax collectors, and even called one to be his disciple.

o Jesus loved Samaritans.

o He loved prostitutes.

o He loved the poor.

o He loved those that society didn’t even see.

He considered them all our neighbors. All loved by God. And all deserving of our love. Jesus completely redefined who our neighbor is. Our neighbor is now anyone and everyone we have an opportunity to love.

But not only that, Jesus taught us to love our enemies. Just as he did. Now, this does not mean that we accept or agree with what they are doing. Love according to Jesus doesn’t mean accepting actions that are wrong. Jesus never loved sin. But he always loved sinners, and he shows we sinners, how to do the same. Jesus met people where they were, but He didn’t leave them there.

o He called them to repent.

o He loved them,

o He forgave them, and

o He invited them to change their ways.

In Closing

Loving as Jesus loved is not easy. Jesus never said it would be. And looking back at his life, in the light of his death and resurrection, we can see that it was not easy for him either. It is not easy:

o to love unconditionally, without agenda or expectation.

o to love in a way that makes us vulnerable, that opens us up to being hurt.

o to love people who aren’t like us.

Jesus didn’t say it would be easy. But it is certainly possible, or he wouldn’t have commanded it. And it is exactly what he did. He is not asking us to do something that he didn’t do already, and do perfectly.

And here’s the good news: When we fail – and we will – Jesus will still love us.

o When we doubt him,

o when we deny him,

o and even when we betray him,

He will still love us.

Because that is what true love looks like.

It looks like Jesus. Kneeling at our feet. Loving us. And asking us to do the same.

Thanks be to God. Amen.