In many ways this week we are reaching the climax of the story of our salvation.  We have been reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus for 5 weeks now, trying to let it settle in.  To get our minds, and our souls, wrapped around the idea that we do not have to fear sin or death because Jesus defeated sin on the cross and defeated death in the resurrection.  And we, by being incorporated into Jesus through the sacraments, share in his victory.

And, now, at the climax of the story, before Jesus ascends into heaven, he gives us what he calls a “new commandment.”  

He commands us to “love one another.” 

If you stop here, his command makes no sense.  It’s not new.  It’s all over the Old Testament.  Love of God and love of neighbor is the theme of the Old Covenant.  

What is new about this command?  You have to keep reading: 

I give you a new commandment: love one another.

Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.

Ah!  There is the new part.  "Just as I have loved you," he says.  Jesus does not command us to some nebulous kind of love, not some non-specific kind of positive regard, not some simple tolerance on one side, or fuzzy appreciation on the other.

He commands us to love each other—just as he loved us.  God became man, and walked among us, to give us an example of the kind of love we are called to live.

So let us look at the kind of love that Jesus is commanding us to live.

1^st it is Generous.  It truly wants the best for the other.  Jesus’ love was the kind that delights in giving gifts to others.  He made 120 gallons of delicious wine to make a good party better.  But Jesus-love does not only delight in giving gifts to friends and family—it overflows the bounds of natural connections.  He fed the hungry, cared for the needy, visited the lonely, spoke words of tenderness to the outcast.  And we are called to live this kind of generous love that cares for itself, and treats the needs of others as seriously as its own.  Do we feel called to living more generously?  Volunteering some time or resources to helping those who are in need?

2^nd, it is Non-judgmental.  Now don’t get me wrong.  Jesus style, non-judgmental love does not suffer from moral ambiguity or confusion.  Jesus style love knows what is right and is not willing to compromise on principles.  Jesus style love does judge actions and denounce sins, but it does not judge people.  Jesus love, being a human kind of love, is comfortable with its limitations, and understands that only God knows the heart, only God knows all the circumstances.  Is there someone, or some group of someones, that you judge unjustly?  Is there someone that you need to accept, as a person, even if you see their sin? 

Connected to this is the 3^rd characteristic, Jesus love is Forgiving.  It seeks reconciliation with everyone.  It seeks healing in relationships, even those torn by selfishness and sin.  Jesus, from the cross, where he won our salvation, was even willing to forgive those who were at that time crucifying him.  We are called to be so full of Jesus love that we have the ability to offer forgiveness even to those who do not deserve it.  That does not mean trusting them, or foolishly depending on them, but forgiving them—that is, seeking to heal the relationship if possible, and not seeking revenge.  Is there someone that Jesus is calling you to forgive?

The 4^th characteristic of Jesus love.  It is Transformative.  It takes in sin, suffering, denial, rejection, and pain—and it gives back holiness, comfort, acceptance, and love.  It’s like a spiritual vacuum cleaner that sucks up bad stuff and gives out good stuff.  Now this does not mean that we are to cower under pain and suffering, or that we allow people to viciously abuse us.  Jesus does command us to turn the other cheek, but this is most certainly not cowardice.  It is the defiant refusal to let the evil of someone else control you and to make you give back in like kind.  Is there some suffering, denial, rejection, or pain that you are being called to take on in the name of Christ?  The pain of daring to share your faith, or speak against sin, with people who might reject you?  Is there some relationship where you have greater spiritual and emotional resources—so you need to just take it on the chin and respond with courageous love instead of simply fighting back?   

The final characteristic of Jesus style love is that it is Sacrificial.  The 1^st Letter of John says: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”  Of course, this could mean literally.  It could mean that our deep realization of our freedom from sin or death leads us to give our life for another.  But for most of us we are not faced with this kind of martyrdom.  But we certainly have opportunities for sacrificial living.  When we deny ourselves the things that we want, so that others can enjoy something.  On the natural level, parents do this when they choose to give up the best of things—time, money, resources and pleasures— for their kids.  Then later in life, the children returning the favor and caring for the needs of their elderly parents.  But Jesus-love calls us to extend this sacrificial generosity beyond our natural obligations.  Denying ourselves extravagances so that we can give some money to the poor or to charities, on our own terms, not just because we get taxed.  Is there some way in which you are being called to give up something that you want, for the good of your family?  Your friends?   For God?

It is only when we focus on living these five characteristics of Jesus love: being generous, non-judgmental, forgiving, transformative, and sacrificial—that we begin to fulfill Jesus parting command—to love one another, as he loved us.