It’s Not Rocket Science by Father Ian Maher

from Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine June 2021

Europe by Book by Hannah Howe

Its Not Rocket Science: Love One Another

by Father Ian Maher

Today’s reading continues a section of John’s gospel in which Jesus is giving an extended discourse to his disciples. Jesus is making them aware of the fact that there are difficult days ahead, not only for himself as he faced his impending arrest and crucifixion, but also for those who follow him. No-one can ever accuse Jesus of sugar-coating what it means to be a disciple. He does, however, also give them clear advice about how to live lives that reflect the kingdom of God in the world, as he himself taught and embodied it.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one ’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.’

A little earlier in chapter 13 of John’ s gospel is the account of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. This was a powerful example of just what Jesus meant. He became the least among them, fulfilling the role of a servant, and turning expectations on their head. It was a very different picture to the norms of a world in which power and authority are exercised in a very different way, yet this is the nature of the kingdom which Jesus ushered in. Those who recognise it are called to march to the beat of a different drum. The supreme example of such loving service was offered by our Lord in bearing the sins of the world on the cross and setting us free from the power of death. Jesus calls us who are his followers, in turn, to love others just as he loved us, even to the point of laying down our lives for others. For some, following that command to love as Jesus loved, might well mean paying the ultimate price, and sometimes we hear of such selfless acts.

Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, the young man who died trying to rescue a woman from the Thames last week springs to

mind as a recent example, but there are many others whose actions in serving and loving others have been costly to the point of losing their life. It is humbling to think of a person acting in that way, and most of us will not be in that position. Yet, Jesus words challenge us all. Loving others, serving others, carries with it a cost. We must be prepared to give of ourselves, to put others first, to respond lovingly to the needs of those who cross our path. There was nothing abstract about either the teaching or example of the life of Jesus. He gave of himself for the sake of others as he went about caring for the poor, healing the sick, and putting his life on the line by challenging the injustice and corruption of those in authority by being a voice for the oppressed. He is the one in whose footsteps we follow. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ It is for each of us who seek to live as his disciples to work out what this commandment of Jesus means to us in our daily lives, and then do all that we can to be faithful in our calling to live as friends of Jesus.

I am a priest and minor canon at Sheffield Cathedral. My last post prior to retirement from stipendiary ministry was as the Multifaith Chaplaincy Co-ordinator and Anglican Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University, where I worked for 12 years.

https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/ Twitter @IanMaher7