Welcome to Day 34 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thanks so much for joining us!  To contact us, visit our website at www.markandkatiemartinez.com.

A Reflection on John 15:12-17

“This I command you, to love one another.” (v 17)

“I see your heart.  I see the pain of failure, the regret of strained relationships.  You have failed to keep my commandment.  I have asked you to do one thing, to love one another, and you could not even do that.

Child.  Do not let your heart be troubled.  You must not expect to be always perfect.  You must expect your failure.  Not out of hopelessness, but in humility, knowing that with failure comes opportunity: opportunity for mercy and reconciliation, for growth and greater love.  The one who has been forgiven much, loves much.

To love is not easy.  It is not easy to lay down one’s life.  It is not easy to lay down your right to be hurt, nor your desire to be right.  I know this.  I experienced the pain of love.  I wept over my beloved Jerusalem.  I sweated blood in anticipation of my sacrifice.  It was not easy.

I see the pain, the torture in your own heart, when the sacrifice of love seems unbearable.  I know that opening your heart to another is opening your heart to agony, but fear not, for agony leads to resurrection.  The sacrifice and pain of love is the dying to sin and selfishness that leads to life.  Love is a communion of persons, a continuous intimacy of self-gift that never ends and gives life to one another in a way that is always expanding, always growing.  It is unity, oneness of heart.  It is saying to the other, my life is all wrapped up in yours, your sorrows are my sorrows, and your joys are my joys, not because I cannot live without you but because I choose “we” over “me.”

I love you, child.  Will you not love one another?”

My Jesus, I am sorry it is so hard for me to love as you love.  Forgive my egotism and pride.  May all that I am and do be wrapped up in you, so that I love with nothing but the love you have placed in my heart.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.