Homily For Friday Fifth Week of Eastertide Year A, 12th May, 2022

Readings: Acts 15:22-31; Ps.57;  John 15:12-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHY WE MUST LEARN TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER?

 

Love is a gift from God to mankind, it is like the stream water, so innocent and pure. A true love is not hidden, it radiates from the innermost being of a person who experience it. Most of the problems in our families, societies and the world at large can be traced to one major challenge, that is the absence of sincere love for one another, as most families today exist by grace and not by love. Imagine how wonderful the world would have been if we all love one another.

 

Little wonder, Jesus knowing how important love is for the well being of humanity, made it the center of all his teachings. He presents love of God and love of neighbour as the summary of all the commandments. And in our Gospel passage today, he says: “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.”

 

So, as Jesus continues his teaching on love, today we heard more about the commandments of loving one another. There is no doubt that we all have experienced God’s love and favour in one way or another. God has done so much for us, giving us everything that we need, and He has shown us all these wonderful love so that we too may know what it truly means to love. And today Jesus is commanding us to also love one another in the same way that God has loved us and this is exemplified by the Apostles in the decision they made concerning how the gentile believers should be treated as we have it in our first reading today.

 

Dear friends, I know that it is not easy to bear the sacrificial nature of love, but that is what the world needs now. So let us be genuine with our actions and love towards one another. Let us not just think about ourselves and our selfish desires, but consider the needs of others. Loving one another requires sacrifice, sacrifice of our comfort, resource, talent, gifts and pride. Loving one another requires forgiveness, mercy, care and humility.

 

How I wish that humanity can invest the amount of energy, time and resources used in producing heavy machines and ammunitions of war into ensuring love and unity in our dealings with one another, believe me, we will not only be fulfilling the first and greatest commandments of God, but we will be building a happy family, a peaceful community and one united humanity build on love. This is why we must learn to love one another.

 

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we make efforts to love one another, grant us the grace to experience true love in our lives, families, communities and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen Do have a blessed day.