May 7- Love Beyond all Telling

6th Sunday of Easter - Successful or Faithful?

 

"This I command you: love one another"

John 15: 9-17

The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050524.cfm

During her inspiring and active ministry in India a British journalist interviewed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now St. Teresa of Calcutta, whose legendary work with the poorest of the poor on the streets of Calcutta, India continues today through the selfless work of her sisters and priests around the world.

During the interview, the Saintly woman was asked how she could keep going in her work knowing that she will never meet all the basic needs of those dying on the streets.  She famously said, “I am not called to be successful; I’m called to be faithful.” That simple statement revealed not only her deep abiding faith and trust in what she believed God had called her to do but also uncovers for us a central theme of our readings this Sunday as we come close to the end of the Easter season.

St. Mother Teresa deeply believed that God had called her to this mission and so she responded with an unselfish heart.  God chose her and she answered. Her ministry was not centered on physical healing as if she was running a hospital and healing people to return them to their families. Surely, some did improve as they cared for them, but they were not doctors nor was it about being successful and counting the number of people she and her sisters ministered to on the streets but more the effect they had on their lives in the final day/hours of these very poorest of the poor. 

Through their selfless compassion, those on the streets knew they were loved; they knew they had dignity, they knew they were not forgotten or trash on the streets; ultimately, they knew that Jesus loved them into eternal life. 

In our Gospel passage from John, we hear Jesus continue his farewell address with his disciples at the last supper. Knowing the drama of his passion was about to take place later that night, he encourages his disciples on how they should live when he is gone. And he wanted to reassure them of how he will remain (abide) in them and in the church Christ would establish through them.

And so he states: “Remain in my love . . . if you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love . . . This I command you: love one another.” It strikes me that Jesus is not suggesting to them how they should be, nor is he simply advising them, he commands them! You must do this; you must be this way.  There is no ambiguity in his words.

This is how he wants to be remembered and how we should live in a way that shows others we are truly disciples of Jesus in the world. But it is far more than just a memory as we would remember a loved one who has passed.  It is a promise of his continued abiding presence among us in and through his Church and the heart of all believers as we live out our call to “love one another” as God has loved and chosen us.

In the second reading from St. John, we hear: “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he has loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” What could be more reassuring, more incredible than to know we have a God who is in search for us.  The mystery of his grace moves within us creating a desire for prayer, a hunger for himself that can only be fulfilled when we surrender to his invitation and allow ourselves to be found by him. And we then respond to the divine love expressed for us as we extend that to one another. Likewise, in the Gospel we hear Jesus say: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you . . . “We are chosen by God to love and to live according to his commandments. 

What better choice can there be for us? As Bishop Barron comments: “. . . to make myself available, to allow myself to be found by God and to move with the grace he offers me.”

What then distinguishes the Christian faith from other world religions is the universal emphasis on love and forgiveness.  That all, without distinction or prejudice, are invited to share in the life of “agape” which our Lord offers us.  That the love we extend to others comes back and grows within us which then creates a fellowship, “agape,” of unity and community.

Like friends to one another, Jesus reminds us that in walking his way, we create an atmosphere of friendship with him and submit to his search.  He is shepherd, we are sheep; he is vine, we are branches; he is God and we are called to be his friends.  And so with one another to express that bond in love.

That is the Easter message he leaves us.  And to cement that for all time, he offers us a gift of friendship – himself in the Holy Eucharist.  Any gift I give to you is a sign of my respect and love.  While God does not separate gift from giver, he does so by making himself the very gift he gives, his presence in the Eucharist.

As we come soon to the end of our annual Easter season, this is what Jesus hands on to us.  We are called to lives of holiness and saintliness.  Not of our own power can we achieve this but only by God’s mercy and grace.  Like Mother Teresa, let’s not worry about spiritual success but about how faithful we are to God’s choice of us.  He will do the rest. 

Almighty ever-living God,

who restores us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, 

increase in us, we pray,

the fruits of this paschal Sacrament

and pour into our hearts the strength of this saving food,

Through Christ our Lord. 

(Prayer after Communion:

6th Sunday of Easter)