Love and culture

The Gospel of John in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhorts us to remain in the love which Jesus expresses for us as being as He loves the Father. The difficulty of human words, even poetry and music, to fully encompass the meaning of love is noted by Joan Blandin Howard. We do know when we experience love. Friar Jude Winkler suggests that love is not a libertarian lifestyle where we do whatever we want. Our experience of love is in service. We are served by those who love us. The joy of life is a gift of faith which trusts in the ultimate goodness of the path in which Jesus invites us to walk guided by the Holy Spirit. Our freedom is to choose. In our decision to follow the Way. We have experience of the Love which is the Divine and which enables the self giving which brings joy to life. The documentation of the Council of Jerusalem at the centre, Chapter 15, of the Acts of the Apostles and by Paul (Galatians 2:1-10) seem to lead to different requirements for Gentile converts in regard to the practice of Jewish customs and dietary laws as noted by Friar Jude. The commandments of the Father to love God and neighbour, which guide our desire to remain in deep intimacy with Jesus, can sometimes seem to be interfered with by religiosity and cultural concerns. These obstacles are real and we need to continue to work as Paul, with the concerns of Antioch, joined Peter and James with the concerns of Jerusalem, to make a path for all to be welcomed as brothers and sisters in Christ.