John 15:9-17
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
The Golden Rule
The Gospel continues to offer us an invitation to bear fruit.
Last week, we were invited to learn from the branches that are connected to the vine, and to reflect upon the only condition that keeps them alive and bearing fruit. Today's Gospel talks about the substantial sap that the branches receive in order to remain alive and bear fruit. This nutritive element sums up all our Christian faith, theology and spirituality.
It reveals:
God's nature "God is Love" 1 John 4:16;
Moved by His Love, "God sent His Only Son to the world, to redeem and save," John 3:17-19
Jesus' love was proven by offering Himself for those he loved, John 15:13;
God's Love is unique and indivisible;
Christ is the icon of the Father, "for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form" Colossians 2:9; and
Jesus' most precious commandment to His faithful "As the Father loves me, so I have loved You. Love each other as I love you. Abide in my love" John 15:9.
May we reflect upon God's love and upon our own. God loves me and wants me to enjoy my life as much as I reciprocate His love. Rooted in His love, I bear fruit that pleases God and witnesses for His Presence among us today.
My reciprocated love to God is lifted up through my love to my neighbor. My practice of this divine love is the only condition to prove that I am His disciple, John 13:35.
God cannot deny Himself, nor does true love deny itself. God's Love is the breeze of the Holy Spirit whose fruits are, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" Galatians 5:22-23.
When you abide in Jesus' love, don't say, "I am in God's heart, but rather say, "God is in my heart."
This is Jesus' Golden Rule, to live my love as faithfully, truly and deeply as Jesus loves me. "Abide in me, abide in love and my love abides in you."