“I order you to love your annoying neighbors who play loud music and to love your cousin Bernie who always wants to borrow money.” That’s not exactly what Jesus said, but that’s the spirit of his command at the Last Supper. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you.” That commandment is impossible to follow if we mistake love for a feeling. We just don’t control our emotions. We feel what we feel, but we do control what we do. We can try to fulfill the commandment by acting in a loving manner. We are to treat people lovingly regardless of how we feel.
Love like that is infectious. When one person acts lovingly toward another, love spreads and grows. Years ago I was at an installation service presided over by a Bishop who was a devoted pastor, but with the personality of a grizzly bear. These were the early days of “sharing the peace,” a practice I was uncomfortable with. We came to the peace, and I reluctantly turned to shake hands with the 12-year-old acolyte next to me. He looked at me strangely, and then hugged me. Astonished, I watched him cross the chancel to give Bishop Grizzly Bear a bear hug. Pretty soon everybody was hugging. The Bishop even hugged the pastor who had ran against him in the last election.
Do you see what I mean about acting lovingly? No wonder Jesus commanded us to love one another.
Read John 13:31-34, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.
Wayne
Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida 