Unity with Christ
The first reading today, from the Acts of the Apostles, describes the establishment of the Order of Deacons where the Apostles selected seven men filled with faith and the Holy Spirit to minister to the needs of the community. Although the Permanent Diaconate was reestablished after Vatican II, the Church, then and now, continues to define and refine the role and duties of deacons.
I entered Diaconate Formation in 1999. Though we would not officially have a homiletics class until our third year, on the first day of class I learned that we were required to give a homily at every session. This came as a bit of a shock to me. I felt, then and now, that I was called to be a deacon because it would enable my service in some ministry the Lord had in mind. It never crossed my mind that I would be serving at mass or giving homilies.
Giving that first homily was quite intimidating because it was a passage that I didn't understand. How was I to preach on something I didn't understand?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, "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 … love … one another.” 1
It's a simple reading. The words are clear and concise. There's no ambiguity in the message, yet I couldn't seem to get a handle on it. It continued to elude and confound me, which led me to a state of introspection. There, I was forced to face the truth. There, I discovered the reason for my confusion, and the basis of my confession. That truth is: I didn't know how to love others and Christ loves me. I didn't know how to live this Gospel message.
The love of Christ is beyond my comprehension, beyond any human experience. The love of God the Father, the love of Christ and the Holy Spirit, is a love that transcends all boundaries. It transcends all human conditions even time and death. Yet, it is more real, more intense, than any love I have ever experienced or imagined.
Jesus asks us to love others with the same love as He loves us. This was my dilemma: how can I possibly love you with the same depth, patience, understanding, and willingness to suffer, as Christ loves me? It just sounds impossible.
Nonetheless, I knew that Christ does not demand the impossible. He doesn't give commandments that we are incapable of keeping. He doesn't expect something that is beyond our capability. How, then, do we obey this holy commandment? How, then, do we love others as Christ loves us?
First, let's look at some characteristics of human love.
We love from self-interests. We're consumed by what we like; what we want; what we think; what's in it for me? It's often our own happiness and fulfillment that we seek. The happiness of others may be a distant second.
We love with restrictions. We love when we have the time - when it is convenient; when it is comfortable; when the price is not too high; when we can fit it into our schedule.
We love discriminately. We avoid the dirty, the sick, the vulgar, and the diseased. We love people like we love puppy dogs – we love the ones that are cute, the ones that are safe, the ones who are fun to be around. We love people we respect and admire. And, we love those who love us.
And we love without pardon. Three strikes and you're out. Sing a little out of tune and you're history. We love as long as our requirements are met. Relationships are often short term. Marital promises of eternal love end in separation and divorce. We segregate ourselves and then assign blame.
And How Does Christ love?
Christ loved selflessly. He never thought of Himself. His one desire was to give Himself to others. He gave Himself to all who asked – to the sick, to the lame, to those possessed by demons, to sinners, to the unworthy. He even gave Himself to those who spat on Him, beat Him, cursed Him, mocked Him and put Him to death.
Christ loved sacrificially. There was no limit to His love. No demand was too great. No price was too high. If love meant the cross, Jesus was prepared to go the distance. He loves us so much that He gives Himself to us under the appearance of bread and wine.
Christ loved unconditionally. He lived with the disciples. He knew their strengths and weaknesses. He knew their aspirations and motives. He knew the goodness of their souls, and the evil in their hearts. He even loved those who were self-serving; those who would desert Him; and those who would betray Him.
And Christ loved with compassion and mercy. For three years, the Apostles were personally taught by the Master. Yet, they were blinded by their own pride, misconceptions, and stubbornness. Peter would deny Him. Thomas refused to believe. Judas sold Jesus for a few coins and betrayed Him with a kiss. They all deserted Him. In the end they were all cowards, undeserving of respect or sympathy, yet Christ loved them, forgave them, restored their dignity, and through them brought His love to the whole world.
So, how do we love others as Christ loves us?
It was only after a great deal of research and meditation that I understood what Jesus was saying. He said, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.”
Jesus is telling us here, and throughout Sacred Scripture, that if we love others strictly with our human effort, strictly with our damaged human nature, we will fail. What is needed is a transcendent love, a supernatural love. And that is possible only if we are fully in love with Jesus – fully united to Him as He is fully united to the Father.
Jesus said, “The Father and I are one … The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.” 2 Thus, to fulfill His commandment, to love others as He loves us, we must be one with Him, and love others not with our love but with His love – a love that is within us.
Realizing and utilizing this supernatural love within us, enables us to fulfill our mission that Jesus calls us to fulfill: to be His apostles and to bring His love to a world so desperately in need of true love. St. Peter reminds us, 'You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 3 Peter continues saying, “ Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 4
It is our privilege, as bishops, priests and deacons, as mothers on this Mother's day, as those who love and honor Our Lady of Fatima, and all the faithful, to allow ourselves to be built into spiritual houses of the Lord, a respite for souls and holy temples for a lost world.
May God Bless You in your mission as His disciples of love!
Baruch Hashem!
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