Love One Another

Last night I received a call from an elderly Irish gentleman from my prayer group. He hadn't shown up this past Tuesday night, so I assumed he was calling about that.  I let the call go to voicemail.  He is quite the talker, very opinionated (hmmm . . . you can imagine the discussions he and I have gotten into!), and I wasn't in a talkative mood.  Around 10:30pm it was time to hit the sack.  I saw my phone's message light blinking and remembered he had called.  In a lovely Irish accent, he said he needed to speak with me and it was very important. At the end of the extensive message, he added he would be up until midnight. My first instinct was to call back in the morning. But then I remembered my blog post from yesterday about loving those who are hard to love. At 10:45pm, I found myself dialing his number. 


He had some questions about the mission and Anne which I gratefully answered to his satisfaction.  And then, in his typical fashion, he began to discuss the state of the world and purgatory.  Interesting combination, right?  By the time he was done wrapping up his thoughts, I glanced at the clock.  Eleven-thirty.  Just as we were about to part ways, he said, "Before we go, let's say the three big ones."  We proceeded to say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be.  I hung up the phone with a smile on my face.  You never know who Jesus will place in your life at any given moment.  Don't waste any opportunities to love He sends your way.


In todays Gospel (John 15:12-17), Jesus commands us to love:

Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

This Gospel says it all.  He has chosen us. Think about that for a minute.  Then thank whoever was responsible for giving you the gift that keeps on giving . . . your faith in Jesus Christ!

In Anne a lay apostle’s book Lessons in Love, she further defines the importance of loving others:

“We are then expected, as Christians, to bring our knowledge of love into the world. It becomes a little more difficult out in the world because love is more likely to be misunderstood or rejected. Still, our obligation remains. Jesus told us to love one another. He did not say love one another and make sure others love you back.”

Lay apostles, it is difficult when you give love with nothing in return. But I have to admit, when this has occurred and I love unconditionally, it feels really good.  Abandon your expectations of how others should act and feel.  Give of yourself knowing you are loving as Jesus did. And, Jesus is loving through you.

Thank you, Lord, for Your commandments of love.  Please continue to teach me how to see others as You do.

God bless,

Bonnie