The Commandment of Divine Love
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer... I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
In today's gospel passage, spoken during the Last Supper after the departure of Judas, Our Lord reveals the intimate connection between glory and sacrificial love. Christ speaks these words at the threshold of His Passion, where His glorification will be realized through the supreme act of self-giving. This is the mystery of our faith - that divine glory is revealed most fully not through worldly triumph, but rather the emptying of self in perfect charity. The Eucharistic context of this teaching reminds us that Jesus Christ's sacrificial love continues to be made present in the Holy Sacrifice of the altar, where His Body and Blood become the True Presence that enables us to fulfill His command.
The newness of Jesus' commandment lies not in the call to love itself - for this echoes throughout the Old Testament - but in its profound transformation: "As I have loved you." The measure and model of our love is nothing less than the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ Himself, who laid down His life for us. This sets the Christian understanding of charity apart from mere philanthropy or natural affection. True charity (caritas) participates in divine love, flowing from grace rather than mere human effort. As St. Thomas Aquinas teaches, this theological virtue infused by the Holy Spirit enables us to love God for His own sake and our neighbor as bearers of His image, forming us into the Mystical Body of Christ.
Our Lord concludes by revealing that this supernatural love will be the distinctive mark of His disciples in the world. This is a sobering challenge for us, who bear His name yet often fail to reflect His love. Do others recognize us as Jesus Christ's disciples by the quality of our love? In a world fractured by division, Jesus' words call us to examine our conscience and renew our commitment to authentic charity. Through the grace of the sacraments and a life of prayer, may we love like Jesus Christ loves, drawing others to Him through our witness. For it is only through union with Jesus - the true Vine, without whom we can do nothing - that we can fulfill this new commandment and participate in His eternal glory.
A Catholic Perspective on
"Love One Another as I Have Loved You"
Traditional Catholic teaching emphasizes that truly following Christ's command to "love as I have loved you" requires concrete action, particularly toward those in greatest need. When we have our basic needs comfortably met, we are especially called to look beyond ourselves to those suffering in poverty. This reflects Jesus's own priority for the poor and vulnerable, as seen in His teaching that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).
Living selflessly means recognizing that our possessions and comforts are not merely for our own benefit but are gifts to be shared. The Catholic tradition of preferential option for the poor invites us to examine our lives and ask: What comforts could I sacrifice so others might have necessities? What luxuries could I forgo to help meet another's basic needs? This isn't about occasional charity but about a fundamental reorientation of our hearts and lifestyles to mirror Jesus Christ's self-emptying love. When we place others' needs before our own - especially those living in poverty - we participate most directly in the divine love Jesus commanded, allowing Him to love through us.
If more wealthy individuals truly embraced Jesus's teaching about selfless love, our world would be radically transformed. Instead of societies marked by stark inequality and indifference, we would witness communities overflowing with compassion and mutual care. The excessive pursuit of personal comfort, status, and accumulation that defines much of modern life would give way to a culture of generosity and shared abundance. Jesus' teaching directly challenges the "all about me" mentality that has become so prevalent, reminding us that our true fulfillment comes not from what we keep but from what we freely give.
Scripture is clear that God will ultimately judge our stewardship of what we've been entrusted with - our wealth, talents, and opportunities. As Jesus taught through numerous parables, we are not owners but caretakers of God's gifts, temporarily managing resources that ultimately belong to Him. The wealthy especially bear a profound responsibility, as those "to whom much is given, much will be required" (Luke 12:48). When we stand before God, the question won't be how much we accumulated or enjoyed, but how faithfully we used our abundance to love others as Jesus Christ has loved us. This final accounting should inspire wealthy Christians to live with open hands and generous hearts, knowing their eternal reward depends not on earthly treasure but on heavenly investments made through loving service to others.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
