This Sunday Jesus gives us a new commandment – As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
Is that really new? After all, in Leviticus (19:18) God commanded the Israelites to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
Of course it must be new because Jesus doesn’t choose words willy nilly (one wonders whether or how Jesus would post on Twitter).
The key is what Jesus did just before saying those words – He, the Creator of the Universe, washed their feet. And soon after Jesus will say, “I no longer call you slaves but friends” and again repeats the commandment, “love one another as I love you.”
St. Augustine explains Jesus is showing that He is about to elevate humanity – washing our feet and calling us friends. And so we should love one another in a new way – worthy of that elevation. We’re not just supposed to love our neighbor as ourself – as two fallen human beings trying not to treat others any more miserably than we treat ourselves. No – we are to become brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ promises to dwell in us (if we invite Him) – and so we should love with His love. And, we should look for Christ in everyone before us – and love them as we love Christ himself.
St. Augustine says, “This is not merely the love with which men love one another, but that of the children of the Most High God, who would be brothers of His only-begotten Son, and therefore love one another with that love with which He loved them, and would lead them to the fulfillment of their desires.”
That’s a tall order.
It takes grace. And fortitude and determination on our part.
In our follow up emails we’ll see what some of the spiritual masters have to say about this new way of loving – with practical insights on how we are to better love God and neighbor.
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript – Jesus’ New Commandment (Jn 13:31-35)
When Judas had left them, Jesus said,
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”