This week is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The assigned gospel text includes these words from Jesus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34) This is without a doubt God’s most important commandment to us! Jesus said so!
So, what does it mean to love one another as God instructs us to do? This act of offering love to all is difficult. For instance; has there ever been a moment in your life where you tried to “look busy” to avoid having to help someone or ignored a stranger who just kept talking to you as you waited in line somewhere together? We all have. It is human nature for us to remove ourselves from situations that are uncomfortable. Yet, God calls us to embrace the uncomfortable by learning to really love others well. God calls us to be brave and to share His love with all who cross our paths. It’s not easy; but scripture states that we should “not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrew 13:2) Showing hospitality to strangers is an act of “loving one another” as a commandment on this occasion by Jesus.
That’s what seems to have happened at Cornelius’ house in Acts 10, when Peter demonstrated love for others of a different race and ethnicity, despite it making him feel uncomfortable. And Peter’s actions were not received well by church leaders in Acts 11 and made them also uncomfortable. But it was fulfillment of Jesus’ commandment to “love one another.”
Join us in worship this Casual Sunday at Covenant. I continue with my Easter Series, “Choosing Hope” with a message as to how following Jesus’ commandment to “love one another” gets uncomfortable but is rewarding. My sermon of course is “Love One Another” based on “John 13:31-35.”
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