… for the week of May 18, 2025
The Deceptive Simplicity of Love
As the Gospel of John portrays Jesus, the rabbi often speaks in cryptic terms, and his teachings in today’s reading are no exception. “The Son of Man has been glorified”? “Where I am going, you cannot come”? (John 13:31, 33). The disciples must have heard Jesus’ instructions about love with a sigh of relief—finally, clear words. They are given a new commandment, to love one another, just as Jesus has loved them. All they must do is love each other, and everyone will know they’re Jesus’ disciples.
One wonders how long it took before the disciples realized just how complicated this was going to be. If we’re honest, we have to ask, Have we figured it out in the past 2,000-plus years? After all, Jesus’ love often mystifies us. Whom does he love? The leper. The tax collector. The outcast. The rich young man. The person living with addiction. The collections agent. The teen who just tagged your wall with spray paint. The wealthy CEO.
Suddenly, this loving doesn’t look so easy.
The context of this week’s passage makes it clear that Jesus isn’t averse to speaking truth in love. Just before today’s exchange, Jesus signals to Judas that he knows what he’s up to. Just after, he cautions overeager Peter that despite his best intentions, he too will betray Jesus. Love isn’t syrupy and bland, slathered across our world in rosy hues that cover up injustice or hard times.
Love is a commitment. Love extends outward from Jesus, through us, to bring everyone whom Jesus loves into the communion of saints. That means Judas, and Peter, and the graffiti tagger, and the CEO—and you. Us. Every person, in every pew, and every child of God who couldn’t identify a pew if they skinned their shin on one.
Each of our communities is a little different. Our everyday “each others” are different too. But the good news is, “each other” always includes everyone—even us.
Devotional message based on the readings for May 18, 2025, reprinted from sundaysandseasons.com.
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… Happy Easter