John 13:31-33a, 34-35

So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. “If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. “Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NKJV)

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In this Gospel, Jesus shares with his disciples that He will be leaving them.  Jesus already knows the fate that awaits him.  He also knows that He has very little time to stress upon His disciples the important behaviors that will be required of them in order to carry on in His name. This is also the first time that we find Jesus referring to Himself in the God sense.  Up until this point, Jesus had deferred answering questions tossed at him about being the prophesized messiah.  He would often counter with ‘who do you say I am?’.  But here, Jesus clearly knows it is time to bring some closure for His followers and to further provide a path for them to follow. He also demonstrate His dual nature as God and Human by telling His disciples, “I give you a new commandment”.  It is our role as Christian’s to adhere to the commandments both old and new in order to Glorify God and bring love and peace to a world filled with hate and war.  Each one of us is called to be apostolic and go and preach the Gospel.

We are encouraged… even commanded by Jesus, to exhibit servant leadership behaviors and live the Gospel daily in everything we do.  We are also commanded to make stewardship a way of live and evangelize.  How are we commanded to do these things?  Through the very actions of our Lord while here on earth.  He was our example.  We are the apostles now charged with carrying on in Jesus’ name.  We have a choice as Christians.  We can talk the talk or we can walk the walk.  Which do you choose?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You washed us of our sins and provide a home for us in Heaven.

Lord Jesus, You are the shining example to your flock of Love for the Father and one another.

Lord Jesus, You offer us fulfillment through the Sacraments.

May the Lord bless us, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.