YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
HOMILY THEME: DEFINITION OF LOVE
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY: (Jn.13:31-35) Fifth Sunday of Easter
In today’s Gospel, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus told His disciples that love is the mark of a disciple. How they love each other will identify who they are. The source of that love will be the examples and teachings of Jesus. Jesus chose His disciples early in His ministry. They were eyewitnesses to everything He said and do. He did not only tell them what to do. He did everything He taught them about love like patience, kindness, not envious and boastful, and humble. “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1Cor. 13)
These teachings and examples were part of the deposit of faith which the apostles were tasked to transmit. Definitely, we have the doctrines but it seems the witnessing is missing. We believe and hold love but we are wanting in its practice. Romantic love has dominated instead. We love when we feel good. We love when things are going well. Otherwise, everything is thrown out of the door. We even invented the phrase “fall out of love”. Essentially there is no such thing. Love is unconditional, unlimited, and committed. That is why in marriage, the vow to love is “till death”, meaning, when they decide to be married, they commit to it whatever happens.
Maybe the next best definition of love comes from a Protestant psychologist minister, Scott Peck: it.” Love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth…” The goal of love is the salvation of the self and the other. Spiritual growth brings love to the highest ground. The reason why God gave His only Son is to save us. His love is salvific. We must also keep that in mind. When we love to be saved and help others be saved, we can never go wrong.
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