Reflection for May 14 Friday Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle: John 15:9-17

Gospel: John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

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Reflection:

Have you been in love? 

Many of us have fallen in love already and many have fallen out of love as well. For those who are still in love up to this very day, say for example to your spouse   notwithstanding the hurts and pains. The love that you have in your heart is somewhat near to the love of God. 

The love of God is a love that is forgiving. It’s not a discriminating love for it does not look at the physical attributes, sins and the social standing of a person. For the love of God is a love that restores and heals.  

In the gospel, Jesus commands us, “love one another as I love you (John 15:12).” Here lies the challenge for all of us because if God’s love is encompassing our love for our fellowmen should be encompassing also. 

We should be capable of loving even those who’ve hurt us and those who do not love us in return. If we truly love Jesus, we have no other choice but to love like Jesus. – Marino  J. Dasmarinas