Love must be the most defined word according to one’s personal definition. Yet, its true definition should be drawn from its source—God—for “God is love.” And love’s ultimate definition is “laying down one’s life for one’s friends,” which Jesus said and did.

Thank God we don’t have to actually die to show our love for someone. Every time we die to our self and sacrifice for others, we love. 

There are moms who gave up their careers to be full-time mothers to their children. That’s laying down one’s life to love more. There are fathers who work abroad, enduring loneliness to give a better life for their families. That’s love.

There are teachers, doctors, soldiers, workers, public servants, and missionaries who sacrifice every day not only to earn a living but to serve others—God, country, and fellowmen. They, too, “die to themselves” for others. That’s love. How do you love? 

Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

reflect

Today, die a little so that others may live more.

Dear Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life for me. May I also learn how to live—and die—for others. Amen.

St. Peter of Tarentaise, pray for us.

I am sure the First Council of Jerusalem experienced all sorts of politics, as recorded in Paul’s letters and in this account in Acts. It seems that Paul was absent during some of the meetings regarding these issues. It is hard to reconstruct an event that happened 2,000 years ago. We have to trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the developments.

²² The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. ²³ This is the letter delivered by them: “The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, ²⁵ we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ So, we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ²⁸ ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, ²⁹ namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’” ³⁰ And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter. ³¹ When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 57:8-9, 10-12

R: I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

⁸ My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing and chant praise. ⁹ Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. (R) ¹⁰ I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Lord. I will chant your praise among the nations. ¹¹ For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. ¹² Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory! (R)  

Gospel | John 15:12-17

As disciples of Jesus, the least we can do is lay down our lives for our friends and for the sake of the Gospel. We need to stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zone to the point of breaking, especially if our calling is martyrdom. Today, people take the easy path instead of the right one. Let us pray for the grace to rise to God’s challenge as we should.

Gospel Acclamation

I call you my friends, says the Lord, for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

¹² Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ This I command you: love one another.”

Reflect

In what way have you taken up the Lord’s challenge to love, especially those who are difficult to love?

Read the Bible in one year! Read DEUTERONOMY 31 - 34 today.

Jesus did not only command us to love one another; He lived it. In effect, He was saying we should be Christ to others. Part of loving is regarding our neighbors as friends and not slaves. As a measure of that love, we follow the commandments that God gave us and that Jesus modeled. Jesus did not mean that love is about obeying commandments per se. For Him, it is the initial step to loving. Obeying the commandments results to a union of wills. When we have come to the point of knowing and following God’s will, we have loved.

Many times I have been asked how long and how much must we love, and I say, love knows no bounds. It is not a matter of time or circumstances. It is an attitude and a decision. That is why Jesus did the ultimate act of laying down His life for us. As He had said, He treated us as His friends, not His slaves. 

We think we can do this to our family members, relatives, and friends, but not to everyone. If we see it that way, then we are failing in our Christian commitment. Jesus did not discriminate. In fact, the command includes our enemies. He commanded us to love our enemies. It is possible because loving is a decision. And since our neighbor is anyone in need, we ought to love that 

neighbor, whoever he is —whatever is his status, race, education, and whatnot. He is God’s creation, made in His image and likeness. He deserves our love—an offering of our life, if necessary. 

This is the Christian imperative. If every Christian remains faithful to this, the world will be a better place to live in. In fact, that is how God planned and wanted it to be. But we need to make it happen. 

Fr. Benny Tuazon

reflection questions

Have you once in your lifetime forgiven an enemy? If yes, how did you feel afterwards? If no, how are you now?

Lord Jesus, I am aware that I am wanting in loving, especially those with whom I am at odds. It is hard to love them. My heart and mind ache for revenge, but my will should prevail. May my will be in accordance with Yours. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________