May 14, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.
Loving as Jesus loves
The reading from the Book of Revelation has a sweeping vision of the cosmic story and salvation history. John’s declaration of seeing a “new heaven and a new Earth” recalls the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis — the act of God creating heaven and Earth. All of this spectacular creation is transformed with the Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. All of creation rises with Jesus. His network of relationships — not only with other humans, but with all of nature, all of this rises in cosmic potentiality. Jesus celebrates the hope of all creation for salvation and new life. The Exsultet that we heard at the Easter Vigil bursts forth in this proclamation:
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O Earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes forever!
Jesus is one with us in this new creation. “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.” God’s dwelling among us is Jesus. His incarnation is God literally “taking on our flesh” and making his home with us. This brings together the whole of the paschal mystery — the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus comes to sweep away mourning, wailing and pain, to wipe away the tears from all faces. God is truly “making all things new.”
“ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:4
In this “in between” time, this time after Jesus has brought all of creation into the Reign of God through the paschal mystery and before the great glory that is proclaimed in Revelation, in this time we are called to work with Jesus in creating new heavens and a new Earth. Jesus shows us how to do this in Sunday’s Gospel from John.
It would be beneficial to read and reflect on all of John 13:1-38, then we can appreciate Jesus’ full meaning. The setting is the Last Supper. Jesus has just washed the disciples’ feet and reminded them that they need to serve each other and follow his example. Jesus also declares that one of them will betray him. Perhaps it is Jesus’ desperate effort to reach out to Judas. Then Jesus talks about being glorified by God and that his time with them is short. In the midst of this very poignant discourse, Jesus instructs them to “love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This is not a Hallmark moment! Jesus has shown them how he loves throughout his public ministry. He has healed and taught, he has shared and listened. He has reached out to all who came to him — sinners, religious leaders, public figures, the poor and outcast. No one was outside his loving compassion. The disciples have just witnessed him do a most menial service for them. They have watched him reach out to the man who would betray him. They will see him completely pour out his life as he suffers and dies. This is the love Jesus calls them to — this is the love that Jesus calls us to!
We know that this love is stronger than death. We know that this love is always available to us. We know that this love is what our world needs so desperately. We know that this love will create new heavens and a new Earth — drenched in the mercy, peace and joy of Jesus’ Resurrection!
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