"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35)This is the Gospel reading for Sunday. Here we see Christ commanding that his disciples should love each other as he has loved them and this love shall prove their discipleship to the world. In every case here, it is agape-love. Note, too, that it is by their fruits that they should be known to the world.
So, how has Christ loved the disciples? Does he show favouritism? What about Peter, the well-meaning shlemiel? Or Mary Magdalene, the invisible apostle? What about Thomas, the ever-practical Missourian? Or James and John, the sons of Thunder? Or Judas, who Christ knew would betray him?
To each and every one, he shows love and understanding equally. The form that love may take is different, as each person is different, but the love is still there. Are we not to show this to each other? To everyone? That is how it works. Not by coming to church or wearing a cross, not saying a rosary or knowing the hymns...but by loving one another. That is the fruit of our faith and it is by the fruit a tree is known.
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