This Sunday brings together a favorite theme in John’s Gospel and First Epistle: that we love because we have been loved by Christ. God’s love flows to us from the Father through Jesus. This love is expressed chiefly when Jesus lays down His life for us on the cross (Jn 15:9, 13). It is then Jesus’ commandment that we love one another (15:12). Our loving is solely by God’s initiative; we did not choose Jesus, but Jesus chose us and appointed us to bear the fruit of love (Jn 15:16).