‘Love one another’

5th Sunday of Easter 

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

May 18, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we continue to celebrate the joy of Christ’s Resurrection. Through today’s readings, we are invited to deepen our understanding of what it truly means to follow Christ: to be transformed by his love and, through that love, to live united as a community in his name.

In the first reading, St. Paul and Barnabas return to the communities they had founded, strengthening them and encouraging them to persevere in faith despite difficulties. Through their testimony, we see that while the Christian journey is not free from trials, perseverance and trust in God enable us to move forward. Today’s psalm speaks of God’s love for his people. It reminds us that he is good and full of mercy, always ready to lift us up in our weaknesses. His faithfulness and closeness give us hope. God is with us at all times, caring for and guiding us. In the second reading, St. John describes the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where all will be restored. God will make all things new. This gives us a profound hope: the promise of eternal life, free from pain and sorrow, where we will live in fullness with him. This is the destiny to which we are all called.

Today’s Gospel focuses on Jesus’ final words to his disciples before his Passion. Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us. This love is the hallmark of Christians: a sacrificial, unconditional and eternal love. He teaches us that love is not merely a feeling but a decision and an act of service toward others. The love of Jesus, as shown in today’s Gospel, is the foundation of our Christian life. In the context of his departure, Jesus leaves his disciples not just a commandment but a way of life that reflects his presence in the world. “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another,” Jesus says, and in these words lies the key to our communal life. This is not a superficial or conditional love but a love that sacrifices, forgives and gives itself for others. Today, this love of Christ should guide our relationships – not only within the Church but also in our families, workplaces and society. This love is not always easy, but it is the only path to true peace and unity. By living out this love, we can reveal Christ to the world, reflecting his light in the midst of darkness.

The central message of this Sunday is that, as followers of Christ, we are called to live love as he taught us – a love that is measured not by words but by actions. A love that seeks the good of others, even at the cost of our own comfort. As we receive this message today, we are invited to ask ourselves: Are we loving as Christ loved us? Are we willing to live out this love, to sacrifice for others, and to be witnesses of God’s love in the world? How can I express the love of Christ in my daily life? Am I willing to love even those who are most difficult for me to love? How can I strengthen my relationships with others through deeper and more sacrificial love?

Brothers and sisters, may this Easter season inspire us to live a more authentic and transformative love, one that reflects the resurrection of Christ in us. Let us not settle for superficial expressions of love but dive deeply into the love that gives life and hope. By following this commandment of love, we will be true disciples of Jesus, witnesses of his resurrection, and messengers of peace in the world. May the Lord strengthen us in this mission. Amen.