By Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

Peter, quite far from Jerusalem, had just worked two miracles in the Name of Jesus. He healed a man totally paralyzed for the past eight years. Called to another town on the coast, he raised a widow from the dead and restored her to her grieving community. Lingering there, God sent a vision to teach Peter that he must change the old narrow view of what foods were proper to eat, for God had created nothing unclean. At the same time, a vision of a Roman centurion caused Peter to learn that salvation was also for the pagans. All these events tell us that God’s care, His love, is not to be measured, not by place, not by race.

Our first reading placed Peter at the home of the Roman, Cornelius. There, Peter declared, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation, whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him.” As Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit descended upon them, confirmed them in Faith, and much to the astonishment of the converted Jews who were with Peter, they began to speak in tongues. He could not deny them the water of Baptism. Hence, “He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” The love of Jesus and that of the Spirit is unlimited.

In the next reading, St. John declared, “Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and loves God.” John went on to teach, “God is love.” The whole of this reading is a Hymn to Love, God’s and ours, His love for us and ours for Him, and for each other as well. At the Last Supper, John heard Jesus say, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, [Love one another] and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (Jn 14:23).

At that solemn supper, Jesus continued to urge His disciples to act through love: “As the Father loves Me, so I also love you. Remain in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in My love.”  To keep God’s word is not a burden. Doing so is intended to bring Joy, said Jesus, and so it shall be if what we do is done out of love. Jesus defined His suffering as the greatest sign of His love when He said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We show no greater love for Jesus than when, at times of trouble, we offer our loving sacrifice with His on the Cross.

Here are a few words of Jesus to ponder, Jn 13:13…

“You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.”

The all-knowing teacher places ‘Love’ at the center of His commands.