John 15:9-11 – Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
This Gospel is very brief: only 3 verses. Yet it is a powerful and loving reading. Jesus tells us that He loves us as deeply as His Father loves Him. Think about that for moment. Who are the people you love most deeply: your spouse, your children, your parents or a very good friend?
Now choose one person you care deeply about and ask yourself: What does that person mean to me? What are the gifts s/he shares with me? Truly, love is the greatest gift on the face of this earth! If we are not loved or if we believe that we are not loved, we truly are lost and alone. How horrific that must be!
Yet love is something that we often take for granted. And how sad that is. Jesus said: “The greatest gifts are Faith, Hope and Love.” If we do not have these gifts in our lives to some degree, we truly are lost and alone. Can you imagine your life without love? What a horrendous life that would be, having no one in your life who loves you and cares about you!
We human beings were created with a great capacity to love and a need to be loved. The gift is that there are many kinds of love: love of a husband and wife for each other, love of parents for their children, love for our parents, siblings, family members, and neighbors, and friendship and spiritual friendship.
Jesus not only loves us with all his heart, He desires that we also love others deeply. We were created for love and love sustains us. Today I invite you to sit down and think about the people you love (and who hopefully love you). What are the gifts they give you? What is the joy they bring into your life? Do they know how much you love and appreciate them and their presence in your life? Today may be a good time to let them know how much they mean to you. They are a gift! And you are blessed!
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