Rev. Fr.
Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
ARE YOU
THAT DISCIPLE THAT JESUS LOVES?
In one
of his poems entitled "The Living Flame of Love”, St. John of the Cross one
of the greatest mysticists and doctors of the Church, said in the first stanza of the poem: “O
living flame of love that tenderly wounds my soul in it’s deepest center! Since
now You are not oppressive, now consummate! if it be Your will: tear through
the veil of this sweet encounter!”
The
flame of love, here is the Holy Spirit, which bathes the soul that encounters
it in glory and refreshes it with divine life of love in which the will of the
soul is united in the most sublime flame of love for God in Jesus.
This
may be the situation of the life of John the beloved one of the disciples of
Jesus in our Gospel passage today, which made the scriptures described him as
‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. What a great description of any one’s
personality. This disciple had a peculiar share in the love of Christ and was
admitted to great nearness and freedom with Christ. This gave him the liberty
which no one has among the disciples.
The
fact remains that, it is a great thing to love Jesus and be loved by Jesus.
Yes, Jesus loved all his disciples, yet within that circle of love there was an
innermost place in which the beloved John was favoured to dwell. For those who display an extraordinary love
to one are all the more capable of great affection to many; and therefore,
because Jesus loved John most, he has an enhanced estimate of his love to the
other disciples. Though John was raised, but others were not lowered, rather
they were raised with him.
John no
doubt was in more intimate communion with Jesus. When all the disciples sit at
the table, even Peter is not nearest to the Lord, but John will lean his head
upon his bosom with earnest and intense
affection. Jesus loves him not just as a disciple but as a dear friend whose
personality as young individual has the most profitable opportunity of becoming
eminent piety. He was the only disciple who was most nearer to Jesus and his
mother at his passion and death.
Hence,
Jesus entrusted his mother to him saying son behold your mother, mother behold
your son, because in John, Jesus has found a soul that truly loves. And the
more a soul loves God, it desires that God be loved and honored by all and the
greater this desire becomes, the more the soul labours toward that end in all
possible means and this is evidence in all the works John beloved.
Dear
friends, are you that disciple that Jesus loves? Have you ever feel loved by
God personally? Have you ever been identified as one whom God loves? Have you
personally desired to be an instrument of God’s love for humanity? Have you
ever paid the price of sacrificial love? Have your love ever been rejected by
those you loved most or have rejected those who loved you?
Today
we are called to examine our conscience to know if there is any sign of true
love of God and neighbours in us. We are called to make ourselves available for
God’s love to abide in us. We are called to build a personality that gives room
for love to flow in us and through us. As we anticipate the solemnity of
Pentecost tomorrow, we are called to open up for the Holy Spirit to enkindle in
us the fire of His love so that our soul will be transformed in love. And let
this fire of love be extended to our families, societies, country and the world
at large.
LET US
PRAY: Lord God, inflame our hearts once again with the fire of your love. Grant
that we may personally and collectively experience you divine love for us and
for all humanity through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely weekend.
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