“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

That is quite the ask, isn’t it? Let’s face it, I am sure you know people who you have a very difficult time liking, let alone loving. Why did Jesus tell us to do something that is near impossible?

Well, we all know that everything is possible with God, right? All virtues are given to us by the grace of God and this is no different. We need to ask God to soften our hearts and to help us love and forgive others as He does. 

Before my faith journey started in 2013, I thought I was compassionate and loved people. I truly did! It wasn’t until God graced me with HIS supernatural love and compassion did I realize how hilarious that is. I really only cared about people who were like me and reflected who I was, to be honest. I did not wish the best for everyone or accept all the different types of people in this world back then.

But now, only because of His grace, I see people as children of God and I have the utmost respect and compassion for everyone’s unique situation in life. Yes, everyone, whether I know them, like them or agree with them. We just need to “love our way through it”...

Of course, there are moments when I don’t love like Jesus. When this happens I stop myself in my tracks and tap into the Holy Spirit to grace me with the attitude, words and love to correct my actions.

If you struggle with seeing Jesus in everyone then pray to God to give you this grace. Keep asking until you slowly see a difference in how you view and treat people. You may also begin to notice the way other people treat one another.

If we all loved just 10% more than we do today - this world would be remarkably different. Can you imagine if we all loved like Jesus? It would be heaven on earth! So, stay close to God through prayer and continue to ask for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

How can you love more today?

Who can you love more today?

How can the Holy Spirit help you to love more like Jesus?

"Come Holy Spirit."

"Thank you Jesus."

"Teach me how to love."

Build a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to have the strength and courage to live the commandment to love like Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in those areas today.

I am just going to say it.

I like being liked.

It’s true. Even from a young age, I always wanted other people to like me. I was the teachers' helper. I would do extra chores for my grandma so that she’d tell me how good I was. I don’t really like conflict. I don’t like being wrong or arguing with others, even if they are wrong and I’m right. I just don’t like the feeling of people not liking me.

So the message in today’s Gospel makes me uncomfortable. Jesus is saying that when people hate you, remember that they hated me first. What Jesus taught and proclaimed was not received well by some people. And they put Jesus on a cross because of it. Living the Christian life and following Jesus is not always going to be the popular option. It will not always be liked.

And that’s scary for me.

But He tells us that we do not belong to the world. We are His. We find our strength and our identity in Christ. Many people in the world do not (or choose not) to know Jesus and to believe what He teaches. But we have been called out to live our lives for Christ and to spread the Good News to the world.

Quite frankly, this is going to mean that in my life, I am going to be faced with people who do not like me because of my beliefs. There will be some discomfort on my part because I will need to make the choice to walk with Christ and speak about Him to others. Pope Benedict XVI once said, "You were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." On many things, the world does not agree with me. But I know in my heart that what Jesus teaches is true, and I want to share that with others.

​I need to ask the Holy Spirit to enter into those interactions. To give me the courage to speak truth and to share love-even when it might make me uncomfortable. I do like being liked, but I know that Jesus is calling me to more. He's calling me to lay down my own pride for the sake of the Kingdom.

In what ways have you experienced the discomfort of being a Christ-follower? 

What are some things that you believe and stand for that are different than those around you? How have you been able to share what and why you believe what you believe with others? 

How are you able to trust in God's love, mercy, and presence in your life even when people dislike you because of your beliefs?

"Jesus I trust in you."

"You are enough."

"I am yours."

Take some time today to think about – or, even better, write down – a list of things about your faith that you are grateful for. In the face of difficulty, gratitude is a powerful antidote and strengthener to get us through. This list gives us the confidence and a reminder that God is present even when things are difficult and that his love is worth facing any trials we might face.

I was with one of my good friends, not too long ago, and I had a small, yet impactful, interior moment while enjoying his company and sharing laughs about the good ole days. A thought crossed my mind, “why are we friends?” Or more pointedly, “why does he want to be friends with me?” This was not a thought of self-loathing or of negative humility, where I was somehow wallowing in my own inner cartoonish Eeyore. Nor was I trying to be judgmental, as if we were not compatible as friends. Rather, in that moment, I was touched by wonder at the gift of his time to me in a way I had not considered in a long time. I was struck with gratitude for the gift that my friend was offering me with his time, presence, and care. I’ll never be able to see how my friend sees me, nor can I ever fully realize why he desires to be friends with me, but I can receive the gift of his friendship with delight, wonder, and joy, and give to him in return the gift of my friendship as we grow together through life’s joys and struggles. It was a quiet moment, but it opened my eyes to the mystery of friendship and recovered for me a deep sense of gratitude for the good friends in my life.

It was this human insight that moved my heart with these readings today. Jesus says, “I no longer call you slaves…I have called you friends.” What a simple phrase of Jesus here, and yet what a profound one. Do we believe that Jesus – who is God – calls us to be friends with him? Think about that for a minute. God, the creator of the world, the alpha and the omega, looks at you and me and says “I want to be friends with you.” What an awesome and humbling thought! When was the last time you were struck by the wonder, the gratitude and the mystery of this divine gift? Not only did Christ die for us, save us, rise from the dead, thus offering us new life and new hope, he also extends the gift of his personal friendship to each and every one of us – if we will only accept it. What a mystery! What a joy!

Sometimes, I think we can feel a sense of guilt at this notion of God’s friendship, recognizing that maybe we haven’t been the best of friends with the Lord. Jesus says that his friends are those that live out what he commands, especially who live out love towards God and others. We can be painfully aware, at times, of our lack of love and following the Lord, which might cause us to shrink back like Peter from God’s friendship and say “depart from me for I am a sinner.” 
​
But, I think we ought to remember another image of friendship. Think of that last time you encountered an old friend after a long time – maybe even years. What was the first thing you did when you saw them? Did you hide your head in shame for the lack of communication, or did you smile, wave, run and share in their presence with delight and joy. At some point in the pleasant exchange, one of you might say “we have so much to catch up on, and it’s so good to see you.” Perhaps, this is one of the ways God sees us when we return to him – with a smile, a hug and a “tell me all about it old friend, so good to see you.” While we are still in Easter, pray with the notion of the gift of God’s friendship, and see how your friend desires to be with you and what your heart desires to do as a response.

Do you really think that God wants to be friends with you?

What makes someone a good friend to you?

What do you do to be a good friend to others?

"I want to be your friend, Lord."

"I love you Lord."

"I'm here to serve you Lord."

Take a moment today to do something good for a friend, practice your skills as a friend!

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us some simple things with some really complicated applications. Think about it: we are told to remain Jesus’ love and follow His commandments. It sounds simple to love God and others, and to follow Jesus always. However, we know that this is not as easy as it sounds, and you bet Jesus knows it. 

Every day is filled with challenges. There are people you have to deal with at school, at work, on your team or in your club, and at home with family members too. Life is not easy, and it is not always easy to love others as Christ calls us to. When we fail to love others, we probably aren't remaining in God's love either. It can be really lonely trying to face all these difficulties on your own. Even with a friend or family member that you can tell anything to, going through hardships can be really lonesome. But, in those times where it is difficult to love and you fail to follow God’s commands, which we all do, Jesus is there with you. He feels your struggle and knows your pain, anger, or annoyance. 

Whatever you might be going through, you are not alone. These daily challenges, the big and small, are not meant to get you down or to pull you away from God, but they are invitations to rely more on Him and to ask for His help. Alone, we cannot remain in His love by our own power or love God and others as He has commanded us to. We need grace and He gives it to us when we ask for it. Jesus is with us and He has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us through our days, through the good and the bad, to help us remain in His love and to follow His commandments. 

Then comes the question: why put in the effort to remain in His love and follow the Commandments? So that our joy may be complete. True joy and happiness comes from God's love and we remain in that love through prayer, receiving the sacraments, and following God's commands. Again, we need His help to receive this joy, but it is so worth the effort. Real happiness and fulfilment do not come from popularity, good grades, a high-paying job, or a boyfriend or girlfriend. It comes from God and His love alone. So, put in the effort and ask for Jesus’s help with the confidence of knowing that the Holy Spirit is by your side. Follow God and love those around you as you go. 

What is a struggle you face daily that pulls you away from God's love or that you struggle to face with patience and love? In what ways do you need God's help to face this situation?

How often do you call on the Holy Spirit for help? What is something you can do to grow in your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Where do you find joy in your life? Are you open to finding true joy in Christ? How can you be more joyful today?

"Help me follow you."

​"I want to remain in your love."

"I love you."

Today, focus on remaining in God's love and following His commandments. When you find yourself losing peace and joy and falling into anger or impatience or whatever it may be, ask the Holy Spirit for help. Ask Him for the grace you need to remain loving and focused on God's love and loving others as Christ does.