Sixth Sunday of Easter

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” ~ John 15:11-12

When we are growing up, rules set by our parents may not have always made sense. In fact, a simple “because I said so” may have been the response after asking the “why” behind a household rule. Yet in today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals the “why” to us behind His commandment of love: “so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete” (John 15:11).

The Lord, the Creator of our hearts, knows exactly what we need to feel fully alive. He invites us to love in a deep and sacrificial way, not because He wants us to be miserable, but on the contrary, because He wants us to experience the joy of being who we were made to be.

The more we accept this high call to love like Christ by “[laying] down one’s life for one’s friends,” the more we can experience true freedom from our own selfishness, pride, and sin (John 15:13). The Lord so desperately desires to free us from the slavery of sin, and to give us abounding joy which can only be found in perfect love.

When was a time you chose to love, and because of that, felt increased joy?

When was a time someone showed you Christ’s sacrificial love?

Who is one person in your life (a family member, coworker, neighbor, friend) that the Lord may be inviting you to love more intentionally this week?