Three Words

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” ~ Jesus in the Gospel of John 13

The readings today are poetic—Revelation and John, quite a duo. John sees a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus gives us a new commandment. He repeats it three times, in different ways, as if to try to let it sink through our thick skulls. So simple really: love one another.

Who am I kidding? Loving someone is quite the challenge. As I read Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom as I lounged in bed this morning, I cried when I came to the part that the authorities would not let him go to his mother’s or son’s funeral. How could they hate him and what he stood for so much that they denied this basic need? Fear destroys love and there is no room for a new heaven or earth when fear rules.

Loving someone unconditionally is complicated. I have many relationships where I have reached that place and I get over hurts quickly or even overlook them because in the long haul, they are trivial. Other relationships are more complicated and loving someone is less easy. Jesus places this three word commandment in front of us and gives us this insane example to follow. How can we possibly compete with that? Sure, I can lay down my life for some people. Other times I wonder, how many times must I let someone hurt me before I say enough is enough? This loving thing is not easy. Not at home, not within myself for myself, not at work, not in community, and certainly not in the wider world. Simple? No. That said, we still must act in good faith and try to do the loving thing whenever possible.

When was the last time you could not love someone you should have?

Peace,

Suzanne