Thursday, May 22, 2014

Easter 6 A - John 14:15-21

John 14:15-21
“If you love me you will keep my commandments.” In the Gospel of John there is only one commandment and while we have come to think it goes without saying Jesus calls it new. “A new commandment I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another." (John 13:34) The Gospel of John doesn't talk very much about loving enemies and his “no greater love than this” is stated as a benefit for friends. (John 15:3) That is not to say enemies are left out of the loving loop only that in the Gospel of John “love another” (aka people you know) comes first if for no other reason but the sorry history of the church not loving people who sit nearby aka in the next pew. How can the world be loved by church people if church people don’t love each other? That is not to say secular human organizations don’t exhibit discord within their ranks just that the church was founded on the principle of mutual love and affection. So keeping the commandments of Christ begins with making the commandment called “new” an everyday ordinary experience. If you love one another you might actually love me (Jesus) or if you love me (Jesus) you have no option but to love one another. It’s the chicken or the egg quandary. You cannot have one without the other no matter which comes first.

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