Jn 15:9–17
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love! You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. 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 any more, 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.
REFLECTION
Peter and Judas Iscariot had similarities and differences. Peter was very close to Jesus, Judas had been trusted with the group’s purse. Peter had been reprimanded for not thinking God’s ways, Judas lamented a “wasted” costly perfume. Both had been forewarned about their future betrayal and denial. Jesus tried to bring them back like lost sheep to his “fold.” To Judas he said, “Are you going to betray me with a kiss?”, and Jesus looked at Peter after the third denial. The former was motivated by despair, unbelieving he could be forgiven, the latter wept bitterly and died believing in God’s compassionate love. Peter as a rock remained firm in his love for Christ, whereas Judas’ name became synonymous with evil and treachery.
There are times when we traded in Jesus with loose morality, we denied him when we feel shameful and afraid to practice our faith publicly and personally. We keep on unremorsefully with sins we deem God could not forgive. We are Christians, but “do we know” much about our faith? Are we any different from Peter and Judas? God has an Alzheimer’s, for what he has forgiven, he has forgotten! He doesn’t know addition and multiplication either.
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