Fifth Sunday of Easter
John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
Love one another
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 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."
John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
Love one another
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 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."
Reflection
"Connecting the world to Jesus one disciple at a time." How are they going to know who the disciples are?
Jesus has been glorified. Jesus ministered and healed the people. Jesus taught the people and fed them. Jesus was even united in glory at the transfiguration. Jesus, for sure, had been glorified and now he was about to ascend. God came to this earth in the flesh of Jesus and God remains on this earth in the spirit of the Holy Spirit.
It's easy for me and you to understand flesh and blood. It's more difficult for us to understand spirit. So Jesus gave his followers a new commandment. Just as we have seen the love and life of Jesus, we also should love and live for each other. Jesus showed loved and we gladly respond by showing his love in us to those he gives to us each day. And it's in this love that the world will know we are disciples of Jesus. When we love one another we connect the world to Jesus. When we love individually, we connect the world to Jesus one disciple at a time. When we love as a church, we connect the world to Jesus as they come one disciple at a time.
Jesus graciously permitted his flesh, that we can understand, to be propelled by the love of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, to show God's love to all the world. Flesh we can understand...Spirit we now have experienced.
We both love one at a time, and we love together and they all come one at a time to see and respond to that love of Jesus shown through each disciple. Jesus, that personal savior in a corporate sharing of his love through us to all the world. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Let your love shine brightly through me this day and become active and alive so that those you give to me may come to you in love. --- Amen
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