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Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 17, 2009 Gospel: John 15: 9-17 The "Look" of Love 9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. I wanted to talk to you this week about love. We hear that word a lot, but don't always spend a lot of time talking about it - and that's not surprising, because love isn't just something we say, it's something we show. So what does love look like? How might we tell that you love someone - or that someone loves you - from just watching? (Solicit children's answers.) Wow...you sure do know how to show your love. And you're right! Love is a special kind of caring and kindness - and those are all terrific ways to show it. This week's gospel lesson is about love. Jesus tells us that of all his commandments that "loving one another" is the most important. And isn't that interesting? When we think of the people we love, we probably think of certain people: our families and special friends. But Jesus reminds us of something important. He doesn't just say "pick a few important people to love." He tells us to "love one another." He wants us to show our love to everyone - and treat everyone with special care and kindness. And that's not all! He not only wants us to love one another - but to love one another in the same way that he showed his love to us. That's a lot of love isn't it? So this week I'm going to give you a challenge. I want you to think carefully about the ways that you might show your love for others and see how many times you can show it. I think you'll be surprised. Can we pray? Dear God, You showed us your love by sending your son, Jesus. Help us to live in his example, by showing our love to others this week - and always. Amen. |
