6th Sunday of Easter B
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me: no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name. What I command you is to love one another.’
1. In today’s first reading (Act 10:25-26,34-35,44-48) Peter made a declaration before the Centurian Cornelius, a declaration that marks a turning point in all that Peter believed from his childhood till that moment. He said, “I now understand that God has no fixed favorite but that from every race and people, whoever does his will is pleasing to him.” Prior to this time, Peter believed that God is the God of the Jews. The Jews are the chosen race while others are nobodies before God. The high point of his conversion was when the Holy Spirit descended upon the pagans in exactly the same way that he did on the apostles. Peter became convinced that anyone can become God’s favorite and that is the truth.
2. The Gospel gives the same message from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus spoke of love as the only qualification for becoming God’s number one. He said that he is God’s favorite because he has obeyed his commandments. He has remained in God’s love. He invites the disciples to remain also in his love by obeying his commandment. He then announced his commandment: “This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you.” His love which is the model for his disciples is described by him as the greatest love. “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Jesus keeps turning between two concepts: love ( friendship) and commandment. Both are dependent. One who desires to be a friend or favorite of Jesus must love others and the one who loves others becomes a friend of Jesus because he is obeying his commandment.
3. In life people make a lot of sacrifices to attract the attention of those who have the power to grant favours. I have heard stories of people making charms to make others love them. I read a fable about a woman who wanted to get a love portion for her husband. The fetisher asked her to get him a fur from the whiskers of a lion as the material for the charm. The woman had to consistently present a lamb to a lion until the lion became friendly with her and she was able to approach it and pull out a fur from its whiskers. When she presented this to the witch doctor, he advised her to show the same commitment to the husband and she will forever be loved. This woman did this just to win the love of a husband and many people could do more for human favours. But Jesus is offering God’s friendship on a simple condition, just loving others as he loved us.
4. Love is a complex concept that I will like to concentrate on love among family members, especially love for fathers in the perspective of Fathers’ Day celebration today. To be a father is synonymous with being a lover. A father sets up a family by falling in love with a woman. He builds up his family by falling in love with his children, caring for them and their mum. From the time a father sets up a family he lives for the family till death. He thinks more of the family than of himself. Even on his dead bed he will not cease thinking of his family. This is the love that Jesus wants us to emulate, the love of the Father that made him to sacrifice Jesus for the world.
5. In the family, the Father is often the forgotten lover. He is often remembered only when there is a problem for him to solve. His birthday is not celebrated, he can understand. He is often forgotten in holiday plans. When Jesus said love one another as I have loved you, people often exclude the fathers from this love. Today is the day to reexamine the love for fathers and grandfathers. I still remember that old story about an old father who was not allowed to eat at table with others because he soils the table. The grandson saw this and asked his dad why Grandpa couldn’t eat at table with them. The answer was simple: Grandpa is old. He can’t stay at table without soiling it. Few days later, the little boy was found tinkering a small table. When asked why, he said he needed to make a table where his dad will be eating when he grows old. The lesson is clear, the way you treat your father is the way your children will treat you. The word of God is full of praise for those who treat their father with love. The Wiseman in Ecclesiasticus 3:12-16 says: “My child, take care of your father when he grows old… don’t look down on him just because you are strong and healthy. The Lord will not forget the kindness you show to your father… When you are in trouble, the Lord will remember your kindness and will help you; your sins will melt away like frost in warm sunshine.”
6. If you wants to be God’s favorite, love others as Jesus loves you. Love especially your father and mother, your husband and your wife with your children, your brothers and sisters. From loving them you can love others outside the family (Ex20:12). Charity begins at home but must not end at home.
© Vitalis Anaehobi 05/05/24
