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[Jesus said,] “this my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

John 15:12.  Archdiocese of Malta.

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Now of all the statements uttered by our Savior, this may be perhaps the strongest, unquestionable and universal ever: that in all times and places (such as in the photo above), we must love everyone…. If taken to heart, who is there left that I should dislike, hate, abhor or loath? Clearly the answer is no-one! Jesus gave us not a single exception. We are very clearly commanded (note the word) to love one another. Forgiving his own executioners is perhaps the purest example of him practicing what he preached. Mahatma Ghandi in a memorable moment, is supposed to have said, “If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian.” Now, if true, it should give us something to think about. Our founder, the Son of God, clearly revealed his agenda in that one statement. All of us are created equal in the eyes of God – we are all children of God. Some choose to do the opposite, as seen in their actions demonstrating hatred, anger, prejudice, violence. Following the example of the Lord, these are to be accepted as God’s children even then, with us turning the other cheek, praying for them, refusing to return violence with violence, and so on. Not easy! Indeed many of us might seem to be incapable of such passive acceptance. But the ultimate judge, God, will see into us and easily discern that of which each one of us is capable.

Consider, for example, the story of Desmond Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist, who volunteered for the army at the start of World War Two, but absolutely refused to hold a rifle. He wished to serve in the Army Medical Corps as a non-combatant. That he did, despite monumental abuse from his unit who condemned him as a coward, thereby, they thought, disgracing his unit (the movie Hacksaw Ridge tells his story). Yet his actions in the war, never holding a weapon, earned him the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and being awarded the Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman. The Church has from the earliest days said that self-defense is an acceptable response to unprovoked aggression. However, I suspect that there is a deep sense of guilt there, as Jesus, in the way he reacted to his own meek acceptance of brutal, unjustified and deadly force, set an example of perfect acceptance and displayed a pacifism which is perfect in its utter acceptance of violent brutality. We have the example of how a Christian should behave in the way Jesus behaved, or Corporal Doss. It is, as they say, a counsel of perfection. The goal is clear, the means of achieving it stupendously challenging.

But Jesus tells us the means of achieving it: Love one another. Simple, direct, and even attainable, as we see in those heroic Christians who have defied brutality in all its manifestations, and achieved the presence of God for eternity. Jesus, our Lord, set the pattern for all time. We know what is required of us. We know how we sould behave and accept. It is up to each of us to follow the command to the best of our ability; God will know if we have achieved it, or not.

Well Done My Good and Faithful Servant, Dilly Designs Art.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS REFLECTION TO THOSE YOU THINK WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

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