Scripture Reflection, May 2: The Witness of Love

Scripture Readings:
Acts 14:21-27
Psalm 145
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35

A lot of research has been done over the last few years about the beliefs and the religious affiliation of young adults. A recent study, published in USA TODAY confirmed once more that 72% of the Millenials consider themselves as “spiritual” but not “religious.” The results are grim for most of the Christian churches, especially the Catholic. A variety of cultural, social and historical reasons are being reported as the cause for this phenomenon.

At the same time we are reading the applications for our Catholics on Call Summer Young Adult Conferences and are touched by the fire and enthusiasm that these young people have for their faith. Many of them serve generously at their Campus Ministry sites, soup kitchens, community centers and in the many poor countries around the planet. And it is striking to see their optimism and generosity.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us his new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I recently came across the story of Pachomius, one of the first Christian saints, born in 292. Pachomius was a soldier and he had returned from the front as a captive, together with other soldiers. They were exhausted. They entered Thebes in Egypt, and they were falling to the ground, with fevers, with blisters for having walked such great distances and having suffered such discomforts. They were dead tired. At a certain point, Pachomius saw people coming out of their homes and picking up these sick soldiers and bringing them home. They medicated them, they let them sleep, they healed them, they gave them food and drink. Pachomius witnessed this phenomenon, all that was taking place, and he wondered and asked: “Who are these people?” And he was told: “They’re Christians.” And so he said: “If I am ever freed, I will look for this God of the Christians.” He was freed because the army was dissolved, he converted, and he founded a religious community. At that time, there were only the hermits who went off alone into the desert. But Pachomius understood that Christianity is love and so he founded these communities of monks living together.

The love that Jesus asks of us is not an easy love. It is more than sentiment and sympathy. It is more than just giving alms. Jesus says: “Love one another AS I have loved you.” Jesus wants to be the model of our love for one another. So what can we learn from him and the stories told in the Gospel? First of all, Jesus invites us to LOVE EVERYONE. Jesus never excluded anyone from his love. Not his political opponents, not the “good thief” or the apostles that betrayed him. And he died on the cross for all of humanity. We also can learn from him to BE THE FIRST TO LOVE. Jesus didn’t wait for our love to return it. He continued his mission even when he was opposed, betrayed and tortured. The same way Jesus teaches us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES and to do good even to those who hurt us. And he not only invites us to charity, but to reciprocal love: TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, to form a Christian community that is rooted in love.

It is not easy to love everyone, to be the first to love, to love our enemies and to love one another. Paul reminds the Christian community that “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ love is a love that has its origin on the cross. It is a love that is ready to endure and to sacrifice. But Jesus’ love for us has changed the destiny of humanity. And our love for one another has the potential to do the same.

Now all this can sound overwhelming and unrealistic. How will we ever be able to love everyone? Here is the good news: We don’t have to count only on our own strength and virtue, but on the power of the Holy Spirit in us: “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) If we allow God’s love to be poured into our hearts, it will transform us and make us new. It will allow God’s presence among us, his “dwelling with the human race,” as it is promised in the book of Revelation: “He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.”

It is God’s love for the human race that we are called to spread in the world. And this love is contagious. It is like fire that irradiates. It will be a powerful witness to others, like it was for Pachomius. And amidst all the negative news that we hear about sex abuse, declining numbers of vocations and polarization in the Church, we can’t forget that at the same time many holy people give witness to the power of love. Many religious and priests give their lives to help the poorest of the poor, the sick and marginalized. Many lay men and women work in projects for peace and reconciliation, for interreligious dialogue and spiritual renewal. And as we can read in our applications, many young people generously serve the Church and the society, offering their talents and their time to give witness of their faith and their love for God.

“Behold I make all things new.” Love can make things new. Love will give us a “foretaste” of heaven and bring forth a new heaven and a new earth. Love irradiates and is contagious. This is the good news that we are called to live out and witness with our lives. As St. Francis put it: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words.”

As we gather for the Eucharist this Sunday, let us open our hearts to the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let us ask God to renew us with his love so that we may be true disciples of Jesus wherever we are.

Birgit Oberhofer

Share your comments, questions, reflections with the CoC community on facebook.