Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 15: 9-11
May 12, 2023 | Thursday

Today’s Gospel

This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you! There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends; and you are my friends, if you do what I command you.

I shall not call you servants anymore, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead, I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father.

You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

This is my command, that you love one another.

Today, Jesus tells us to love one another as He loved us. Jesus loved us so deeply that He was willing to die for us! What a tremendous gift He gave us. The question for us is, are we willing to “die” for one another? Jesus asks us to “die” for one another. Jesus does not literally mean we are to “die.” Instead, He asks us to fully and freely give ourselves to the people in our lives, which in a sense, is dying by putting others first. We freely give of our time, attention, care, and love. Is there a better gift we can give to the people we love and cherish? What better gift can we give to our world?

Take a moment and ask yourself: who are the people who “die” for you? What are the gifts you receive from them? Could there be any better gifts to receive? Yet, we often take these seemingly “small” gifts for granted. I invite you to take a few moments to consciously remember the “gifts” you received today. Then remember the people who gifted you! Give thanks to God (and perhaps to them) for their presence in your life! Jesus also has appointed each of us to “go and bear fruit.” Today and every day, may we follow in Jesus’ footsteps!  /Vulnerasti, 2023