Coffee With God

Reflection John 13: 31-35

This Sunday’s Gospel opens with the words, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him….” In the first verses of today’s Gospel (Vv. 31-32), the verb ‘glorify’ appears five times. Jesus is in the ‘Upper Room’ and only a few hours away from his capture and condemnation to death. John recorded in four chapters the farewell discourse of Jesus– the final Will before his death. The common understanding of the word “glorify” is attaining people’s approval and praise, fame and popularity. People desire, yearn, and struggle for this glory of the world. Those seeking the glory of the world often distance themselves from God. But the glory that Jesus speaks of is different. In his glory, God does not astound people with a demonstration of his strength. A few days earlier, Jesus had made it clear that the glory that awaited him was the moment of sacrificing his life, by which he would reveal to the world the great love of God for his people. “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified… If the grain of wheat that falls into the earth does not die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:23-24). After washing the feet of the Twelve, Jesus offers his Will: “I give you a new commandment: “Love one another… just as I have loved you” (Jn 13.34). But why is this a new commandment? In the Old Testament too, God commanded his people to love their neighbour as they loved themselves (cf. Lev 19.18). Jesus himself had taught his disciples that the greatest commandment is to love God with all their heart, and the second is to love one’s neighbour as oneself. So what is new in this commandment? The novelty is: “…as I have loved you.” The novelty lies in the love of Jesus, the love with which he gave up his life for us. This is God’s universal love, without conditions and limits. God’s love for humanity is manifested on the Cross. When John writes the Gospel, he recalls the passion and agony of Christ and explains to his community the meaning of those words: “as I have loved you, so you too must love one another.” The love of Christ makes us capable of loving our enemies and forgiving those who have offended us. Am I capable of forgiving and loving these people who have wounded me and humiliated me? If not, the reason is, I have not yet understood how does the Lord love me.