First Reading Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26,34-35,44-48
The gift of the Holy Spirit comes to Cornelius and his household, and they are baptized.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4
A song of praise for God’s salvation
Second Reading 1 John 4:7-10
God is love.
Gospel Reading
John 15:9-17
Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel follows immediately after the Gospel proclaimed last week, in which Jesus taught that he was the vine and that his disciples were the branches. In the example of the vine and the branches, we learned that our union with Jesus will lead to fruitful service. Today’s reading extends this teaching to describe the kind of service that Christians are called upon to offer to others.
When John wrote this Gospel, his community was influenced by a set of religious beliefs called Gnosticism. It appears that one of John’s intentions was to distinguish Christian belief from the beliefs held by the Gnostics. Evidence of this can be found in today’s Gospel.
One of the tenets of Gnostic teaching was the importance of knowledge, or gnosis, as the determining aspect of faith. We read today’s Gospel as a response to this teaching. In John’s Gospel, we hear Jesus affirm that he is known by the Father and that his disciples will know the Father by knowing Jesus. In this passage, however, Jesus reminds his disciples that this knowledge is to be expressed in love. Those who know Jesus well—and Jesus says that his disciples do know him—will love one another. Knowledge leads to love, which leads to action. John reminds his community that Jesus taught that love is the sign of a true disciple and, thus, a true Christian. Even more, a true disciple shows a particular kind of love, sacrificial love.
In the Greek, there are two words for love that are used in this passage. The first is agape. The second is philia. The first word is most often used to describe love for other persons and for God. It is understood as the highest and most perfect kind of love. The second word is used to describe the affection of friendship. In this context, John appears to use these words as synonyms. The root of the Greek word for friend comes from this second term for love, philia. By using this word, Jesus transforms the terms of his relationship with his disciples and redefines for them their relationship with God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, faith in God made one a servant of God.
Here Jesus teaches that his relationship to his disciples is based on friendship, not servitude.
Another aspect of Gnostic belief taught that a believer was an elect person, chosen and set apart from the world. John reminds his community that Jesus also taught that a disciple is one who had been chosen—one who had been chosen by Jesus. To be chosen by Jesus, however, is not to be set apart from the world. Instead, to be chosen by Jesus is to be sent to serve the world as he did. The disciples of Jesus were chosen and were sent into the world to bear fruit by serving others, by sacrificing for others, in love.
This reading, like last week’s, is part of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse. In the context of John’s Gospel, these words are spoken before Jesus’ Crucifixion. We read his instruction to the disciples in light of his death and Resurrection. We know that Jesus himself gives us the greatest example of the kind of love and service that he teaches to his disciples. He has, in fact, laid down his life for his friends, for his disciples, and for us. Through his death and Resurrection, we have received the grace to love others as Jesus has commanded.
March11 - Fourth Sunday in Lent : The measure of God’s love
March 4 - Third Sunday in Lent : Reverence vs Religion
February 24 - Second Sunday of Lent : Rhythms of Ecstasy and Agony
February 18 - First Sunday of Lent: Renounce Satan with the power of the Word of God
February 11 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Broken but Restored
February 4 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Saved to Serve
January 28 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Speaking with Authority
January 21 - Third Sunday in ordinary Time :Seek that which lasts
January 14 - Second Sunday in the Ordinary Time : Introducing Jesus to others
January 7 - The Feast of the Epiphany: Follow the star
January 1 - The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God: The Blessing
December 31 - The Feast of the Holy Family
December 25 - The Nativity of our Lord: God enters our messy world
December 24 - Fourth Sunday in Advent : Nothing is impossible with God
December 17 - Third Sunday of Advent : Shine Jesus Shine
December 10 - Second Sunday of Advent : Prepare the way; metanoia
December 3 – First Sunday of Advent : Be Prepared
November 26 - Feast of Christ the King: We will be judged on love
November 19 - Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time : Talents, Kingdom and Accountability
November 12 - Therty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time : Be Ready
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