May 27, 2011

Jn 15:12-17

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love 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.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”


When Michael and I were engaged I asked him, "What does it mean to you when you say to someone that you love them?"  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but after sitting for a brief moment, he said, "That I'd die for that person." 
That was it...I knew he didn't use the word loosely...and I knew he meant it.   

Jesus, thank you for giving me a husband that, in many ways, lays down his life for me and my children daily.  Thank you for teaching me how to love.  Thank you for all of the men and women who lay down their lives for others.  Jesus, help me to love like you. Amen