John 13:31-35
Jesus says, “Everyone will know that you are my disciple if you love one another.” That seems pretty straightforward. Jesus told his disciples that love was the glue that would hold them together and keep them faithful to him and his teaching. He told them that just before their lives got really hard. Jesus was arrested and executed. They were afraid. They didn’t have a master plan for what they were supposed to do next. Some of them were also executed within a few years. Before all of them died their country was crushed, their temple destroyed, and Jerusalem leveled. Some days we think we live in scary hard times, but this is nothing compared with what these disciples were about to face. So what advice is sufficient for people whose lives are about to fall apart? Love one another.
They surely weren’t surprised that this was Jesus’ bottom line. It’s what he’d been saying the whole time they had known him.
God is love.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Everyone is your neighbor.
Over the centuries church teachers have written volumes about what it means to be a Christian. Councils have spent years debating the fine points of theology. There have been schisms and reformations and great awakenings. But the basics remain the same: love one another.
Sometimes I think so much else is written about how to be a disciple because the love part is darn hard to do. God knows all of us are sometimes unlovable. We say the wrong things. We think the wrong things. We make huge mistakes. We alienate friends and families and sometimes even make it hard to love ourselves. Jesus doesn’t say we have to get it right all the time. We just have to keep trying. God is love and nothing can separate us from God or from love.
Then there are all those other folks that make love so hard. The ones who are truly cruel. The ones who lie, cheat and steal. The ones who call us names. The ones who undercut us at work or school. The ones who commit crimes. The ones who vote for the other party. Jesus doesn’t say we have to like people. Or like all the things people do. In fact, he spent much of his energy calling folks out when they did harmful things. But he extended love to everyone. Love that looks like respect for the person even while condemning their actions or beliefs. Love that holds hope for change and gives second and third and endless chances.
Every week I’m reminded that there’s a lot about this moment in history that reminds us of the first century, and other moments when life was hard. Much of what’s broken in our time shows that folks still aren’t taking Jesus seriously about this love stuff.
Love doesn’t start wars.
Love doesn’t bomb civilians or withhold humanitarian aid from them.
Love doesn’t see refugees as a threat or deport people without due process.
Love doesn’t turn folks who dissent into criminals.
Love doesn’t withhold healthcare or food aid.
Love doesn’t reject and endanger people because of race or gender or gender identity.
Love doesn’t lie.
We could make a long list. During Lent we acknowledged many unloving actions when we focused on the desert experience. This Eastertide we’re trying to remember that in spite of cruelty, love still exists. There are still helpers trying to do what is right and care in any way they can.
It’s important for us do two things at once:
To hold the standard of love against what’s happening in our world. That let’s us celebrate the good around us and name those actions we believe are wrong.
To love all people as best we can. Especially those who make us cringe. To treat every single person as a beloved child of God. For there is no one whom God does not love.
Jesus’ command to love one another is also his gift to us. We can love extravagantly only if we know ourselves to be loved – accepted, respected, valued, cherished. When we belong to a community which grounds us in love, then we are empowered to extend love to others. We need a home base where we can rest and reflect if we are going to be the transforming power of love in the community and in the wider world. We need to love each other so we have the strength to love everyone else.
Whether we like it or not, the foundations of our society are shaking right now. I’m convinced that the most important things we can do in response is to get very clear about what it means to love as God loves, and to support and care for each other along the way. I’m working on finding the resources to help us understand what that means for our summer project. I welcome your suggestions. Who gives you hope? What authors or musicians clarify your thinking? Where should we be putting our collective energy? How do we form strong community to sustain us? Most of all, what does it mean to love one another? That’s the journey we share together.