On those rare times when I would help my father-in-law with another construction project, he always used to say: measure twice and cut once. That was his way of telling me that if we measured properly we would avoid mistakes. Measurements are an important part of our lives.
We use so many things to take measurements; high tech equipment to help us with weather forecasts, kitchen utensils that help us measure out the right ingredients for that favorite recipe, and many medical devices, like a simple thermometer to measure medical conditions from the very serious to something has simple as our temperture.
Today, Jesus tells us plainly how to measure our Christianity: by our love.
As people of faith, how do we measure up?
Today's Gospel, at first, may confuse some of us. After all, we are now 5 weeks deep into the Easter season. You may recognize the words of today's Gospel as those spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper. It's like a flashback but an important one. On this 5th Sunday of Easter, as we begin looking forward to the celebrations of the Ascension and Pentecost, the Church wants to remind us of the core message of Jesus: love. Jesus plainly tells us that He is giving us a new commandment: love one another. and He goes on to tell us how we are to do this: as I have loved you, so also should you love one another.
Jesus is being very clear here. He knows that we often mess up the word "love". The same word "love" that we use to describe our feelings for our spouse, or children, or dear friends is many times the same word we use for our car, or an oyster po-boy. Jesus is not talking about the love that only takes root in feelings or emotions. Jesus is talking about unconditional love; many times referred to as "agape" love. This is the love that is freely given and expects nothing in return. It is a love that Jesus taught, in words, many times over and in deeds, including the ultimate gift of love; His dying on the cross for us; to take on the burden of our guilt and to open the possibility of Heaven for each and everyone of us. It is the love Jesus asks us to give to our enemies and to those who hate us, even persecute us. It is the love that Jesus asks us to demonstrate with our acts of charity for those most in need. It is the love that Jesus asks us that leads to us avoiding condemnation and judgement.
What does that love look like for us today and in the days and weeks ahead. First, do people know that we are Christians by our love. We all have sung the words to that song but would people say of us, ah look at those Christians from St. Jane's; see how they love one another?
Can we love one another by being more active, engaged members of our parish family? Are there some among us who have perhaps missed an opportunity to be engaged in parish ministry or even involved in praying for the sick of our parish as they appear in our parish bulletin today? And as previously mentioned in prior homilies can we think about just one person in our own lives, someone that seems practically unlovable, and can we go them with the love that Jesus commands us in this Gospel? And perhaps in the week ahead, we can make a conscious effort to do a random act of kindness, a random act of love, that will benefit someone we do not even know.
Remember His command: love one another. And remember His "how": as I have loved you, so you also should love one another! Will they know we are Christians by our love?
Measure twice and cut once if we must; let's take our spiritual temperture; will we measure up; by our love, by our love?
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