“A New Commandment I Give You…”Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 2, 2010
Acts 14:21-27 Revelation 21:1-5 John 13:31-35
The second reading from Rev. 21: 1-5
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
The word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Glory to you, Lord.
As soon as Judas left the room Jesus said, “My time has come; the glory of God will soon surround Me—and God shall receive great praise because of all that happens to Me. And God shall give Me His own glory, and this so very soon. Dear friends of mine, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jewish leaders, `Where I am going you cannot follow.’ A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Introduction
The first note of the Ascension struck
Introduction
The first note of the Ascension struck
At the Last Supper Jesus knew His hour had come to leave this world. After Judas, His betrayer, left the room, He said to the Apostles, “Dear friends of mine, I tell you I shall not be with you much longer.” He was referring to His leaving the Apostles in His impending death on the cross. But on this fifth Sunday of Easter, His words (“I shall not be with you much longer”) also strike the first note of the upcoming feast of the Ascension[1] when Jesus takes leave of His Apostles as He ascends into heaven. (Lk 24:50-53)
A new commandment
At the Last Supper, Jesus conferred a parting gift upon the Apostles: “Friends of mine, a new commandment I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.” These words reflect the last line of the second reading: “Behold, I make all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)
The commandment to love one’s neighbor is an old one. Already in the Old Testament the Israelites were commanded to, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”(Lv 19:18) (That, indeed, is a high standard, since we’re all very adept at loving ourselves.) What’s new, however, is that Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. (That’s not only new; it’s also a very high standard.) How much did He love them? At the Last Supper “He showed the full extent of His love.” (Jn 13:1) He rose from the table, girded Himself with a towel, washed their feet, and commanded them to wash each other’s feet, as He washed theirs. (Jn 13:4-15)
The commandment to love one’s neighbor is an old one. Already in the Old Testament the Israelites were commanded to, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”(Lv 19:18) (That, indeed, is a high standard, since we’re all very adept at loving ourselves.) What’s new, however, is that Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. (That’s not only new; it’s also a very high standard.) How much did He love them? At the Last Supper “He showed the full extent of His love.” (Jn 13:1) He rose from the table, girded Himself with a towel, washed their feet, and commanded them to wash each other’s feet, as He washed theirs. (Jn 13:4-15)
Only 1 commandment
In the sixth century B.C., Buddha gave his followers 8 commandments or paths to follow.[2] In the sixth century A.D., Mohammed gave Muslims 5 commandments or duties to perform.[3] In the Old Testament, Moses on Mt Sinai received 10 commandments carved on 2 stone tablets for the people of Israel to observe. (Ex 20:1-17; Dt 5:6-21) In the course of time, rabbinical tradition, seeking to ritualize God's presence in the most insignificant details of human life compiled an accretion of 713 major commandments and a whole constellation of minor rules and regulations – a burden which weary Israelites found too heavy to carry. Things haven’t improved too much; the new Code of Canon Law (the Church’s handbook of laws), promulgated in 1983, contains 1752 canons!
In the New Testament, Jesus does, indeed, multiply the loaves and fishes (Lk 9:10-15), but He doesn’t multiply commandments. He is, in fact, a new Moses, and He holds in His arm only 1 stone tablet, and on it is written only 1 commandment.
One day a teacher of the Law, trying to trap Jesus, asked, “Teacher, which is the first most important commandment of the Law?” Jesus replied by quoting Scripture -- Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “You must love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Then without being asked and in the same breath, He quoted Scripture again --Leviticus 19: 18: “And the second most important commandment is this: `You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ On these 2 commandments depend the whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets.” (Mt 22:34-40) Jesus melded 2 commandments into 1, thereby serving notice that we can’t claim to love God, if we don’t love our neighbor. In his first letter John writes, “Whoever says `I love God,’ but hates his brother is a liar.” (I Jn 4:19)
In the New Testament, Jesus does, indeed, multiply the loaves and fishes (Lk 9:10-15), but He doesn’t multiply commandments. He is, in fact, a new Moses, and He holds in His arm only 1 stone tablet, and on it is written only 1 commandment.
One day a teacher of the Law, trying to trap Jesus, asked, “Teacher, which is the first most important commandment of the Law?” Jesus replied by quoting Scripture -- Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “You must love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” Then without being asked and in the same breath, He quoted Scripture again --Leviticus 19: 18: “And the second most important commandment is this: `You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ On these 2 commandments depend the whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets.” (Mt 22:34-40) Jesus melded 2 commandments into 1, thereby serving notice that we can’t claim to love God, if we don’t love our neighbor. In his first letter John writes, “Whoever says `I love God,’ but hates his brother is a liar.” (I Jn 4:19)
A liar
Rev. Fred Phelps is founder of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas . Phelps and his little gang of followers passionately hate gays. He claims that most natural disasters and terrorist attacks are God's punishment upon a society that tolerates homosexuality. Because the US tolerates gays, he and his few followers picket the funeral of fallen US soldiers, and they carry signs with such slogans as `God Hates Fags’ and `Thank God for Dead US Soldiers.’ If the Rev. Phelps claims to love God , he is a liar, for “Whoever says I love God, but hates his neighbor is a liar.” (I Jn 4:19)
A signature commandment
Jesus gives us a new commandment, and He gives us only 1 commandment. He also gives us a signature commandment: “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” His words gave rise to a favorite Christian hymn:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
Feuerstein
Aaron Feuerstein was CEO and owner of a fabric mill in Methuen Mass., which burned down in December of 1995. He didn’t take the insurance money and run, but stuck with his 2400 employees and continued to pay them in full, at 12 ½ dollars an hour and at a cost of 1 ½ million dollars a week. What’s more, he promised to rebuild their factory and put his people back to work. That so stunned corporate America that it couldn’t resist the temptation to name him `CEO of the Year.’[4] Feuerstein, a devout Jew, doesn’t know what all the notoriety is about. He says he was simply heeding the prophet Micah who calls him "to act justly, with loving kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8)
In its marrow, the command to love our neighbor has nothing to do with having `a good feeling’ about him, but it has everything to do with doing good to him. At the end of the day, however, there does come `a good feeling’ at having done good to our neighbor. At the end of the day, `a good feeling’ always comes upon Feuerstein who did good to his employees, and it helps him to sleep contently at night. Loving your neighbor is a signature commandment: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Because of Feuerstein’s love for his 2400 employees this devout Jew is a true disciple of Jesus.
In its marrow, the command to love our neighbor has nothing to do with having `a good feeling’ about him, but it has everything to do with doing good to him. At the end of the day, however, there does come `a good feeling’ at having done good to our neighbor. At the end of the day, `a good feeling’ always comes upon Feuerstein who did good to his employees, and it helps him to sleep contently at night. Loving your neighbor is a signature commandment: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Because of Feuerstein’s love for his 2400 employees this devout Jew is a true disciple of Jesus.
Quinn
In the morning newspaper Jerry Quinn, who owns a bar and restaurant in Boston, read an article about Franklin Piedra, a 33 year-old Ecuadorian, suffering from chronic kidney failure, and in need of a 100,000 dollar kidney transplant which he can’t afford. Quinn, who has been saving his money for a major down-payment on a two-bedroom apartment in a suburban part of Boston with a river view and all, decided instead to forfeit a new home and pay for the transplant.
In its marrow, loving our neighbor has nothing to do with having `a good feeling’ about him, but it has everything to do with doing good to him At the end of the day, however, `a good feeling’ always comes upon Quinn who did good to Piedra, and it helps him to sleep contently at night in his old house. Loving your neighbor is a signature commandment: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Because of Quinn’s love for Piedra this bartender is a true disciple of Jesus.
In its marrow, loving our neighbor has nothing to do with having `a good feeling’ about him, but it has everything to do with doing good to him At the end of the day, however, `a good feeling’ always comes upon Quinn who did good to Piedra, and it helps him to sleep contently at night in his old house. Loving your neighbor is a signature commandment: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Because of Quinn’s love for Piedra this bartender is a true disciple of Jesus.
Conclusion
A signature commandment for us
Loving one’s neighbor was a signature commandment for a devout Jew and an unselfish bartender; it made them disciples of Jesus. It’s also a signature commandment for us; it also makes us His disciples. In its marrow, loving our neighbor has nothing to do with having `a good feeling’ about another, but it has everything to do with doing him good, or at least wanting to do him good. At the end of the day, that helps us also to sleep contently at night.
[1] Ascension Thursday, May 13, 2010
[2] The paths of Right Knowledge, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Behavior, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Absorption.
[3] Shahada: proclaiming there is no God but Allah; Salat: praying five times daily; Zakat: giving alms; Ramadan: fasting;; Hajj: making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
[4] Time magazine , January 8, 1996
[1] Ascension Thursday, May 13, 2010
[2] The paths of Right Knowledge, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Behavior, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Absorption.
[3] Shahada: proclaiming there is no God but Allah; Salat: praying five times daily; Zakat: giving alms; Ramadan: fasting;; Hajj: making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
[4] Time magazine , January 8, 1996
