Love, love, love….
Love, love, love…..
Love, love, love….
All you need is love…..Love is all you need.
(You should be very grateful that I did not sing that!)
The Beatles wrote and published more than 280 songs. Of those songs, well over half of them speak of love.
If John the Evangelist was alive in the 1960’s, he would easily have fit right in with that famous musical group.
Let’s just recap some portions of John’s Gospel:
• “I am the good Shepherd. I know mine and mine know me. I will lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn 10: 14-15).
• “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they know me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.” (Jn 10:27-28)
• “I know those whom I have chosen.” (Jn 13:18).
• “Do not let your hearts be troubled….I am going to prepare a place for you.” (Jn 14:1-2).
• “Whoever loves me will be loved by my father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (Jn 14:21)
• “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love her, and we will come to her and make our dwelling with her.” (Jn 14:23)
• “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” (Jn 14:27)
• “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” (Jn 16;4).
• “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.” (Jn 15:9).
Love, love, love….
…all you need is love…..
In fact, there are some stories about the later years of John’s life—when he was in his 90’s — and when he would be asked to speak with the faithful, —- all he could or would say was “Love one another.” He would repeat this over and over again. “Love one another.”
Just before He died, Jesus seems to have repeated the same thing over and over, as well —- perhaps stressing different aspects of that love, but still —-
• I love you
• My Father loves you
• Love one another
• Love me
• People will know you are mine if you love…..
Love, love, love….
….all you need is love.
The Gospel is filled with promise and passion. We are promised many things by Jesus:
• Personal relationship;
• Eternal life;
• The fact that we are chosen, desired and wanted by the creator of the universe—by God Himself;
• Constant care and protection;
• Comfort;
• Peace;
• Presence; and
• Love, love, love.
What a God we serve!
Who could have dared to make this up?
• That God would love us—that in itself is awesome!
• That God would love us so much that He would come down to earth to be with us and show us the way to Him;
• That God would suffer and die so that we could have the joy of eternal life with Him in heaven;
• That God would meet OUR needs—Shouldn’t it be the other way around? It seems that from the beginning of time, God has always been washing our feet.
• Who in their right mind could have ever made up this story? Who could ever have dreamed of the love that God has for each and every one of us? Who would have dared?
Today’s is perhaps a very simple and short reflection. However, it is short in the hope that you will go home and think about the many, many ways in which you have experienced God’s love over the course of your life. What more could you ask for than the incredible bounty you have already received from God.
When my son receives a birthday or a Christmas gift, I insist that he write a thank you note to the donor before he uses that gift. God has given His incredible gifts freely and, sometimes, before we even realize that He is the giver. However, it might be nice if you wrote a thank you card to God. Just a little note to let Him know that you realize He is the donor and that you are so grateful that you have been chosen and invited into a personal relationship with Him.
Remember….
Love, Love, Love……
…..all you need, is love!
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