Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 24, 2019
Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Straightforward and to the point, no qualifiers or addendums, this commandment can prove difficult to follow. Perhaps because we cannot fully comprehend God’s unconditional love. And if we can’t understand the extent to which we are loved by God, then how can we extend that same unconditional love to others?
When I find myself critiquing someone or judging them I think this impatience arises from a small, deep part of me refusing to believe it is possible for God to really truly love me completely. Our all-knowing God sees all of my faults; so how can God not judge me or be impatient with me when I make mistakes?
Time and time again during his life on earth, however, Jesus demonstrated the depths of his love for all people. Jesus loved those society considered the most unlovable. Jesus forgave the unforgivable—even those who killed him. Jesus forgave the unforgivable—even those who killed him. God sent Jesus to demonstrate that there are no parameters on God’s generous love. Yet, as I go through my daily life, I still find myself putting parameters on who I love and how I love.
When I find myself starting to treat someone in an unloving way, Jesus, help me to remember this line from John’s gospel: to remember how truly, deeply, completely God loves me and then love the other person with that same love.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, you laid down your life for us in sacrifice as our abiding friend, brother, and savior. Bless all those who have sacrificed so dearly for us. Help us all to make the world a better place by sharing the fruit of your abundant love. We entrust all we have and are to your goodness. Alleluia! Amen!
Saint of the Day
Joanna was a laywoman from the first century who was married to the head servant to King Herod.
She followed Jesus and is mentioned in Luke’s Gospel when she provides for Jesus and the apostles out of her own resources (Lk 8:3). Tradition holds that when John the Baptist was killed, she obtained his head and buried it honorably.
Luke’s Gospel also tells us that Joanna was among the women who went to anoint Jesus’ body after his passion, death, and burial. She was among the first who were greeted with the news of the resurrection (Lk 24:10).
The chapel in Geddes Hall, which houses the Institute for Church Life and the Institute for Social Concerns, contains stained glass windows that depict the works of mercy. Joanna is one of the “myrrh-bearing women” who are shown in the window dedicated to “burying the dead." The relics of St. Joanna also rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
Joanna, disciple of Christ, whose care for Christ's dead body revealed to you his risen one—pray for us!