Reflection
What is love? If we look at popular culture we will find different answers to that question. Movies, books and love songs have tried to paint a portrait of what it is. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” They are the famous lines from the book The Love Story by Eric Segal that was made into movie. Or the song of the Beatles that says “All you need is love.” There is no arguing that our world needs love. But what kind? Jesus agrees that we all do need love in our lives. But not only the love stories written and love songs sung kind of love. We hear in the Gospel today Jesus give his disciples a new commandment, different from the commandments they have been used to. His new commandment said: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Three things make Jesus’ kind of love new and different. First, he says don’t love the way the world loves. Let your kind of love not be what is popular and the fad. Jesus is saying do not love only with human love. Mind you, not everything about human love is wrong though. But many times it does not always work. But love the way Jesus loves. And how did Jesus love? He gave this commandment of love at a time when he was about to suffer on the cross and be put to death. It would show the ultimate sacrifice: offering one’s life out love for the heavenly Father and the people given to Jesus. His was a love empty of self-concern, conditions and expectations. Second, this is a new kind of love because he makes it an imperative, not just a request, for his disciples to follow. It is not a multiple choice kind of thing. It is not a cafeteria or turo-turo situation where you pick and point only what you want. It is a clear command of Jesus: “Love one another as I have loved you!” Even if it is a command, we are still free to reject it, be indifferent to it or respond and obey it. Third, if we do take seriously his imperative of love, it becomes the proof we are his disciples. It is the badge by which we are recognized as faithful to Jesus. It would be helpful to describe more in detail what this command of love that Jesus gives entail. In the Greek language, four words are used to describe it: Storges, philia, eros and agape. Storges is love for family members. Philia is love for friends. Eros is between a man and a woman. Agape is love not based on feelings or emotions but on willing what is best for the other. This is the love Jesus wants us to have that should guide thenother loves we have. That is why he can say “love your enemies” and “forgive seventy-times seven times.”
Response
As the command to love is the greatest commandment of Jesus, it also is the hardest and most difficult. It is a mandate that is now and forever, in season and out of season. It is the highest duty of any Christian faithful. The obligation of love seems contradictory because many believe you cannot force love. But love is also a decision that requires discipline and dedication. It needs to say I’m sorry.