Fifth Sunday of Easter - A Reflection by Fr. Leo

It is hard to comprehend the inner peace of Jesus in today’s gospel.  Judas has just left to betray him and Jesus is talking about being glorified by God and gives his final instruction to his disciples to love each other has he loves them.  Only in the days ahead will they understand the extent of Christ’s love for them.  Jesus, aware that his end is coming soon is not worried about himself, he knows he is in God’s hands.  He is more concerned about his disciples.  More than anything he wants them to love each other.  Nothing is more important to him for it will be a sign that the Holy Spirit is with them.

It is also in the community of disciples loving each other that each will find the strength they need to journey to the fullness of Christ’s kingdom in their own spiritual journey and for them there will be nothing more important than that.  Love will guide and strengthen them until they come to live in the fullness of God’s Spirit just as Jesus did at the table with them.

As we reflect on today’s gospel we might ask ourselves, if we were knowingly near the end of our life, what would we want for those around us?  Wouldn’t we want  the same for our loved ones as Jesus wants for us?  If so, how do we begin to live and communicate that now?