6th Sunday of Easter, Year B

Love can change the world for the better.  Hate can’t do that. 

Why?

“Because love is of God.”

Jesus does not want us to be his slaves.  He says so himself, “I no longer call you slaves.”  Instead He calls us friends. 

As Jesus also says, “a slave does not know what his master is doing.”  As our friend, He tells us everything He has heard from our Father in Heaven. 

Why?

Because He loves us.  Every one of our readings today says something about love.  They may not all use the word “love” but they all do speak of God’s love.

Love begins with God.  In order for us to love, we must first be loved.  Everything begins with God loving us.

We might think everything starts with us.  It does not.  Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” 

Jesus tells us, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

“In this is love:  not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins.

God’s love knows no bounds.  As Peter said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.  Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”

The Jews were indeed a chosen people, chosen by God.  They thought themselves to be an exclusive people.  So, they “were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also.” 

Love is contagious.  As Jesus says, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.”

God created us to be loved and to love.

What does it mean to love?

Jesus repeatedly tells us that we need to keep his commandments.  He doesn’t say the Ten Commandments.  He uses “commandments” to signify everything He has taught us.  Everything Jesus teaches us flows from his love.  God doesn’t just love us.  As John writes, God is love.  (The First Letter of John is about “love”.  It’s a short letter yet it uses the word “love” eleven times.

“But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners
Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8).

God has always loved his people.  When they were in famine, He sent them to Egypt where they found their brother Joseph with plenty of food.  He recognized them when they became slaves in Egypt.  In these “wondrous deeds,” He has “revealed to the nations his saving power…The LORD has made his salvation known.”

Remember, in love, “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.”

Hate…hate can be powerful but it is love that can change the world for the better.