As I love you

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to be open to the guidance of the Spirit in decisions involving our relationships with others, especially those who are struggling with Life decisions.

Love for Life

The passage from Luke’s Book of Acts describes the process of developing the contents of the letter of the Apostles concerning the place of Jewish practices in the lives of Gentile converts.

* [15:13–35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1–10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lv 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem “Council” that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time).1 

Psalm 57 prays for rescue from enemies and joyful trust in God.

* [Psalm 57] Each of the two equal strophes contains a prayer for rescue from enemies, accompanied by joyful trust in God (Ps 57:2–5, 7–11). The refrain prays that God be manifested as saving (Ps 57:6, 12). Ps 108 is nearly identical to part of this Psalm (cf. Ps 57:8–11, Ps 108:2–6).2 

The Vine and the Branches section of the Gospel of John contains Jesus description of how to love others as He loves us.

 * [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here.3

In Romans 5:7 Paul reflects on dying for a good person.

 * [Romans 5:7] In the world of Paul’s time the good person is especially one who is magnanimous to others.4

For Thomas Quinn, the Gospel according to John, especially chapter 15, has always been at the core of his love and belief in the teachings of Christ. Jesus states both at the beginning and at the end of this chapter the core sentiment of his message; “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

From the beginnings of the Church, the love and care of God was conveyed to all who would open their lives to it. The Church was growing, the authority of the church was being established, and the pastoral care of the followers of Jesus was made even more evident to the new converts.  The words from today’s gospel reading: “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” truly describes not only the mission of Paul, Barnabas, Judas (Barsabas), and Silas, but our ‘s as well. Paul would eventually travel about seven thousand miles on his journeys to spread the word of God; he eventually paid with his life.5 

Don Schwager quotes “Love encompasses the other commandments,” by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)...

"This is my commandment." Have you then only one precept? This is sufficient, even if it is unique and so great. Nevertheless he also said, "Do not kill" (Matthew 19:18) because the one who loves does not kill. He said, "Do not steal," because the one who loves does even more—he gives. He said, "Do not lie," for the one who loves speaks the truth, against falsehood. "I give you a new commandment" (John 13:14). If you have not understood what "This is my commandment" means, let the apostle be summoned as interpreter and say, "The goal of his commandment is love" (1 Timothy 1:5). What is its binding force? It is that of which [the Lord] spoke, "Whatever you want others to do to you, you should do also" (Matthew 7:12)."Love one another" in accordance with this measure, "as I have loved you." That is not possible, for you are our Lord who loves your servants. But we who are equals, how can we love one another as you have loved us? Nevertheless, he has said it... His love is that he has called us his friends. If we were to give our life for you, would our love be equal to yours?... How then can what he said be explained, "As I have loved you"? "Let us die for each other," he said. As for us, we do not even want to live for one another! "If I, who am your Lord and God, die for you, how much more should you die for one another." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 19.13)6 

and offers a meditation on the greatest act of love which one can give for the sake of another.

Jesus defines friendship - the mutual bond of trust and affection which people choose to have for one another - as the willingness to give totally of oneself - even to the point of laying down one's life for a friend. How is such love possible or even desirable? God made us in love for love. That is our reason for being, our purpose for living, and our goal in dying.6 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 15:22-31 is all about growing pains. With the conversion of many Gentiles to the faith, the Church had begun to experience dramatic growth, and that growth caused some controversy among the apostles. Because things had changed, they had to change as well, and not just in the way they led the Church. They had to change their hearts to welcome people they had once considered unclean and cursed by God.

Whatever the changes are, know that you are not going through them alone. The Holy Spirit is with you. Just follow the apostles’ example. Pray. Listen carefully to each other and to the Spirit. He can help you find the best way to reflect his love and mercy to each other.7 

Friar Jude Winkler describes the practices recommended for Gentiles that arose from the gathering of the apostles in Jerusalem. The decision was made under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Luke tends to report peace and few difficulties in the Christian communities in Acts. Friar Jude extends our understanding of Jesus commandment to love to loving and giving to enemies until we have nothing left to give.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, observes in very real ways, soul, consciousness, love, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. Each of these point to something that is larger than the individual, shared with God, ubiquitous, and even eternal—and then revealed through us! Holiness does not mean people are psychologically or morally perfect (a common confusion), but that they are capable of seeing and enjoying things in a much more “whole” and compassionate way, even if they sometimes fail at it themselves. He shares from the late Jesuit priest and professor Richard Hauser SJ.

The goal of the spiritual life is to allow the Spirit of Christ to influence all our activity, prayer as well as service. Our role in this process is to provide conditions in our lives to enable us to live in tune with [Christ’s] Spirit. Our effort is not a self-conscious striving to fill ourselves with the important Christian virtues; it is more getting out of the way and allowing [Christ’s] Spirit to transform all our activities. Christ will do the rest. His Spirit has joined ours and will never abandon us.8 

It is in discernment of our journey in the Spirit that we can connect Jesus complete self giving Love to the situations we encounter in our relationships with each other.

References

1	(n.d.). Acts, chapter 15 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/acts/15
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 57 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/57
3	(n.d.). John, chapter 15 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/15
4	(n.d.). Romans, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/romans/5
5	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries - Creighton University. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
6	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
7	(n.d.). 5th Week of Easter - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations .... Retrieved May 24, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/05/24/
8	(2019, May 24). Living in the Spirit — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 24, 2019, from https://cac.org/living-in-the-spirit-2019-05-24/