Gospel Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Easter

24th April: Love one another

Since time began writers, poet and singers have used the word love in so many different ways to get their work and message noticed, some when more success than others! And as is often the case, the more a we hear a word or use it, the less power it has. Words used properly can be very powerful and effective.

In our gospel this Sunday, Jesus puts before each of us the great command; love one another, just as I love you. And this is more challenging and difficult than it sounds. We are not asked to simply like each other; we are to love each other as Jesus showed us.

Although we are now celebrating the season of Easter, there is no harm in reminding ourselves the lengths Jesus went to so could he physically demonstrate his love for each of us. On Holy Thursday he got down on his knees to wash our feet. On Good Friday he was lifted up on the cross for us and on Easter Sunday he burst out of the tomb with the gift of new life.

As followers of Jesus today, we are called not simply to believe in the resurrection, we are called to live it through the quality of our daily lives, through how we treat each other and speak to each other. Our actions will speak louder than our words. As John of the Cross reminds us, ‘at the end of our lives, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and our human achievements but on how much we have loved.’