The New Jerusalem, The Apocalypse Tapestry c.1373, Château d’Angers, Angers, France.

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Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.            Revelation 21:1-2.

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Today’s gospel may well be one of the most challenging to understand, accept and live by: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once.” So we must rely on scripture scholars to help us. Jesus is talking of his “glorification”, which is to say his death and resurrection. It is noteworthy that Judas had just left the table in order to betray his Lord before Jesus said this. Those who remained lived out their whole lives spreading the words of life and love, all to be martyred (with the exception of John). Jesus’ utter determination to stand by his teachings and his identity as Son of God meant that he would glorify himself by upholding this teaching to the bitter end, death on the cross. His resurrection glorified God his Father as this action conquered even death. It is a unity of action which glorified God totally. And then there is the source of all this strength, even conquering death: “I give you a new commandment: love one another”. There is the heart of all Jesus’ belief, strength and power. Death cannot conquer love. It has met its match. There is the glory of which Jesus speaks. There is the overarching strength of Jesus’ conviction, love conquers all. The other two readings are the practical result. Paul and Barnabas encounter fearsome odds trying to convince others of the truth of Jesus’ teaching and example. Yes there is rejection and ridicule, but the goal is worth all the suffering. The result with be a new, glorious and shining example of the perfect city of love and life, the New Jerusalem. All the suffering, frustration and pain will be gone. 

Given all that, I think the quotation in the paragraph above is an attempt to describe, even analyze, love. The complete bond between Jesus, God’s Son, and God the Father is complete, eternal, total and binding. To see the one, as Jesus himself said, is to see the other. There are likenesses in human life. Two people who are utterly devoted to each other are completely open to those around them in the sense they welcome them into their homes, into their lives as if they are one person. They enjoy the company of others, just as the others completely enjoy being with them. There is something life-giving being with them. You feel strengthened having been with them. There is joy anticipating being with them. They reflect the love of God. It was to defend that love that Jesus died. To have denied it before the high priest, for example, would have meant denying the love he had for God, his Father. That was not possible. That meant he had to die. And that same love brought him back from death! That is how strong it was! It makes today’s second reading understandable. That new Jerusalem is the dwelling of God’s love into which each one of us is invited, to live with the source of love forever! And it explains the determination of Paul and Barnabas to continue in the face of hostility, rejection and denial; to give up would be to deny the love they feel towards God and the Lord. 

And so to us today. How does each one of us reflect God’s love for us in our lives, our relationships and our outlook to others? Jesus was open to everyone, save perhaps to the money traders in the Temple, where he saw contempt for the One he loved – and he was prepared to do something about it. How far is each one of us prepared to go to uphold our most cherished convictions in the face of criticisms or challenges to our faith? Is the love of God central to our love of others – or the other –  in our life? If God is being hurt in the course of a normal day at work, at home or wherever, how do we react in defense of the one we love? Silence is clearly not an option… And there is the rub. Jesus was prepared to die in defense of such. How far is each one of us prepared to stand up for our deepest belief? 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus 1955, Rocathour.

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