In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
1 John 4:10-11
Okay, so, let me get this straight: we must love one another? That’s a pretty tough assignment that John is handing down today. It was also handed to us by Jesus as the second half of the Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:29-31). But don’t John and Jesus know that this person lied to me? That this other one stole from me? That my former best friend betrayed me? Yes, Jesus knows. He knows all about us. God loves us all and, “sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” So, yes, Jesus came for you and for that person who lied to you, for the thief, for your best friend and literally everyone else.
Loving one another is not easy or meant to be temporary; it’s the work of a lifetime. May we pray today for the strength to bring the love of God to others, even if they subsequently might ask, “Okay, so, let me get this straight, THAT person loves me?”
Terence Hegarty
This Sunday Classic first published on June 19, 2020
