“Loving like Christ – in obedience, with sacrifice and in fruitfulness – and helping ‘to resurrect lives!'”
(Based on Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5a and Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35- Fifth Sunday of Easter)
An incident is told of a 7 year old boy.
He was just a quiet boy…
… slightly built, often overlooked
… and painfully shy.
But what made him suffer most was his stutter.
Every time he tried to read aloud in class, the snickering began.
Mockery… whispers… even eye-rolls from some of the teachers.
And over time, his silence became louder than his words.
He began to dread mornings, hoping to blend into the corners of the classroom,
… wishing he could disappear from every roll call.
One day, after he stumbled badly while reading, someone shouted, “Just stop trying!”
The class laughed.
But one classmate didn’t.
Later that day, the boy returned to his locker – head down, spirit crushed.
He opened the door, and something fluttered to the floor.
A small folded piece of paper.
He unfolded it slowly, hands shaking.
It read: “I think your voice is strong and kind. Don’t be afraid to speak.
That was it.
No signature. No clue.
But in that one sentence… something broke.
A wound began to heal.
What no lecture could do… what no sympathy could fix…
… that one, small, obedient act of love –
done quietly, without recognition, sacrificing comfort, risking ridicule,
… bore fruit that no one could have imagined.
Years later, in a hall filled with hundreds, that ‘quiet, shy’ boy stood with confidence…
… his voice echoing with passion and strength
… now a renowned speaker, helping others find their voice.
When asked what turned it all around, he said: “It was a note. Just one line. It didn’t just encourage me…
… it resurrected me!”
That’s what love does!
Love listens when others ignore.
Love gives when others retreat.
Love resurrects when others ridicule.
Love, indeed, is the best medicine for any sickness which cripples human life!
And the reason for this amazing power of love is simple:
True Love flows from the heart of the One who is Love… God!
Genuine Love gushes forth from the fount of the One who is Love Incarnate… Jesus!
The Gospel of the Day is the wonderful exhortation of Jesus to His followers with the “Great Commandment of Love”
Jesus says in today’s Gospel:
“A new commandment I give you, that You love one another, even as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34)
It is interesting to note that what Jesus gives is a COMMANDMENT…
… it was not a suggestion
… it was not a piece of advice
… it was not an ordinary recommendation
It was a Commandment!
TO LOVE, is a COMMAND!
Every follower of Christ…
… is expected
… is bound
… and is under obligation
… TO LOVE… as JESUS LOVED!
Indeed, “Love isn’t proven in emotion…
… it’s proven in obedience!”
There are three important dimensions of the Love of Jesus that we can outline and highlight:
- A Love that is obedient
Jesus says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love” (Jn 15: 10)
Jesus remained in the love of the Father, by doing His commandments.
And he enjoins the same principle of Obedient Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also obeys and follows the commands…
Do I have a love that is obedient…?
… happy to undertake the various duties and responsibilities entrusted to me and fulfilling them to the best of my capabilities.
- A Love that is sacrificial
Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15: 13)
Jesus showed the depth of His love by undertaking the highest sacrifice of His own life.
And he enjoins the same principle of Sacrificial Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also offers and foregoes some luxuries and securities…
Do I have a love that is sacrificial?
… willing to lay down one’s bias and prejudices, dying to one’s evil inclinations, putting to sword one’s bad habits that takes away from God and making adjustments of one’s self-desires to make way for God’s plans in life.
- A Love that is fruitful
Jesus says, “… I chose and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain… ” (Jn 15: 16)
Jesus showed the quality of His love by displaying the fruits of compassion, tender mercy, an accommodating heart, gentleness and generosity.
And he enjoins the same principle of fruitful love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also bears fruits of patience, kindness, self-control and faithfulness…
… and radiates the fruits of joy, generosity and peace…
Do I have a love that is fruitful?
… bearing fruits that witness God’s love by promoting unity and harmony and attracting many to the tender mercy of the Lord by a live of passion and zeal.
The Lord has loved us tremendously… with a love that is obedient, sacrificial and fruitful.
Each of us is to possess this same treasure of love.
Love binds every brokenness…
Love joins every divorced situation…
Love unites every ruptured circumstance…
May the Lord enable us to be filled from His fountain of love and share His joy and peace to a world that is broken and seeks for consolation, comfort and calm…
… and thus help us to share in His Dwelling place “where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain…” (Rev 21: 4)
When we love like Christ, we don’t just touch hearts…
… we help ‘to resurrect lives!’
Let’s always remember: It only takes one small seed of love, sown in obedience and sacrifice…
… to change a lifetime!
Yes…the quietest act of love is sometimes the loudest voice in someone’s life.
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
Whoever honours his father atones for sins, and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.
Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard.Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother. (CCC # 2218)
Reflection Capsules 