May 15th: As Jesus Loves

Love would simply be a motive for us to reach out, to go beyond the limits and even if it comes to it, give our lives for someone else.

John 15: 12 – 17.

Leviticus 19: 18 already commanded the people to “love your neighbour as yourself.” So what makes Jesus’ command today different? The difference is, he added: “As I have loved you”.

If we love as Jesus loves us, how would we behave? If we love as Jesus loves us, our love would take on specific characteristics. We would unhesitatingly sacrifice ourselves for others. It would not matter who ‘the others’ are. Love would simply be a motive for us to reach out, to go beyond the limits and even if it comes to it, give our lives for someone else.

If we love as Jesus loves us, we would willingly serve. Nothing will be too much or beneath us and no one will be considered unimportant.

If we love as Jesus loves we would change our relationship with others. As Jesus did. He calls us friends instead of slaves. If we love as Jesus loves we would unconditionally befriend others, not for the benefit we can derive from them, but simply because we can.