NEW IN THE OLD COMMANDMENT

Being the youngest among my cousins (maternal side) and siblings, I am the receiving end of their used clothes and items. From old toys to second-hand school items, I had them all. I would always yearn for new things instead of old stuff. But life was difficult back then. The only consolation I had was that my mother and my siblings would find ways to make that old stuff look new through their creativity. I remember having notebooks made out of unused and collected notepads. My mother would patiently place them together using colorful yarns and cover them with artwork and adorable lettering of my name. And voila, what used to be an old and worn-out pad became new. In a commercialized world, recycled things may have no place. New items are in things. But there is always beauty in the old when experienced from a new perspective.

As Jesus bid His apostles a farewell, He gave them a new commandment: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” God's commandment of love is not really new. The Old Testament cites it a number of times (cf. Dt 6:5, Lev 19:18). However, what can be new in this new commandment? The eve of His passion and death points to a new reality of this age-old commandment of love: “As I (Jesus) have loved you.” This is new! For us to understand what is new in this commandment, it is imperative to ask: How does Jesus love us? Experiencing this love can guide us to fulfill the new commandment He gives to us.  

Jesus’ love is lucid, overflowing, victorious even in the midst of hate and indifference, and everlasting.

God's love is lucid as it is manifested in our life, in the things he had created for us, in the people he sends in our life. Jesus' love is concrete. It is made clearer as He dwells among us; the Emmanuel, the God who is with us. When He saw hungry people, He fed them. When a sick person approaches Him, He healed Him. When a sinner goes to Him, He forgave his sins. His love is made clearest when He offered His life for us. Jesus did not remain a Word. His love did not merely become a divine expression. He was made flesh. His love is an action. 

God's love is overflowing, as on the cross Jesus embraced the entire creation, not only the righteous but most especially the sinners. His love is for everyone. Thus, the apostles would go to the ends of the world to preach about this love. They were not confined in Jerusalem nor to the Jews alone; to one set of people chosen by God. After all, the selfless love of Jesus is uncontainable. It is something that moves us to share it as it realizes its purpose through sharing and not keeping it selfishly. 

His love for man is victorious. The pinnacle of Jesus' love is evident on the cross; a love that is ready to die for His beloved. In His wounds and death, love triumphs. Perhaps, hanging on the cross, Jesus died not in total agony and utter misery, but with joy and satisfaction, knowing He had realized the will of the Father to communicate to man the endless and selfless love of God. Motivated by the same love, three days after, He would rise from the dead, crushing sin and death in a definitive way; through selfless love for others.  

His love is everlasting. God is eternal, and so is His actions and deeds. Though two thousand years may have passed since He made that sacrifice out of His love for man, that love is still felt and experience to this day.

 Difficult? Yes. To be fully transformed by the love of God entails hardship; such as shedding the old to assume a new identity. We are transformed as we meet and experience love. We change, if not for the better, for good. True love transforms us; as a lady is transformed into becoming a mother as she loves her child; as Peter is transformed from being a fisherman to a shepherd. BINABAGO TAYO NG PAGMAMAHAL! As we experience Jesus' love, we are transformed to becoming the persons whom God meant us to be: To be bearers of His image. We are to love like Jesus; to share the same love He shared to us. It is this love we ought to imitate, for it is this love that we have received since the beginning. It is in this love that our true identity lies as God's children; as Jesus' true disciples.

As we imitate the selfless love of Jesus, we too suffer as He did. In the face of trials due to our love for God and one another, God sends people and inspirations that will strengthen us whenever we are discouraged to pursue this kind of love. Paul and Barnabas, in their missionary journey of sharing the love of Jesus to the Gentiles, were an encouragement for the Gentiles to pursue this love. They did so by imitating Jesus; by loving others like Jesus. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:21-27). Wounds mark Christian discipleship, just like those of Jesus, which He had gained because He loved, even if it meant laying down His own life for man.  

Through this new understanding of the commandment of love, love that is ready to die for the beloved, love that is ready to suffer, love that is transformative however painful the change may be, we will be able to glorify the Father, as the Son glorified the Father through Jesus' transformative love of humanity. Through this love imitated by us, God continues to be present among us. Through Jesus' brand of loving shared by us to others, we become Jesus' living signs in this world. Indeed, by loving like Jesus, God is glorified and so is man, for through it, man gains a glorious identity: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples: by your love for one another.”

LOVE GOVERNS ALL

It was reported in one of our department meetings that there were some ambulant vendors within our campus. They were selling lunch to our office staff. Upon knowing this, we issued a memo prohibiting them from doing such business on our campus. We did so, not because they would unjustly deprive our food concessionaires in the canteen from having potential customers, but in order to protect the persons within our campus. Our personnel may be exposed to the danger of food poisoning since we have no supervision over the food preparation of these ambulant vendors. The laws are set to protect and promote the welfare of persons rather than to accuse them.

In the Gospel, Christ spoke about the fulfillment of the laws and the prophets. But he did not mean the fulfillment of the 613 laws the Jews and Pharisees had made out of the 10 commandments of God. These 613 laws that gave emphasis on the rigorous fulfillment of the 10 commandments have overburdened the people, so much so that they missed out the spirit of the laws of God. Christ summarized the 10 commandments of God into two laws governed by one ultimate law: Love of God and love of neighbor ruled by the law of Love. As Christ preached about the fulfillment of the laws and the prophets, He was pertaining to the introduction of love which was rather missing in the Jewish laws. Love is the rightful intention and spirit of the commandments of God. Love is greater than any precepts man can craft. This love is what Christ wanted to fulfill. He did so through His passion, death, and resurrection: the greatest expression of God's love for man, setting for us the ultimate law of love that should direct our life.

As children of God, we are to abide by the commandments of God and keep our neighbors and members of our community in doing so. We are a church, a community, and a family after all, who swore to keep each other. But how do we fulfill the laws and the commandments of God among us? Are we the rigorous type of people who make sure the laws are observed to the letter? Do we desire to implement the laws so that we may prosecute those who break it, or because we desire to protect them or to love them? Christ is our model and inspiration. He desires that the spirit of the law be fulfilled; that love may reign between us, lest we become like the Pharisees. Christ’s act of perfecting the law of love through His paschal mystery should strengthen us in fulfilling the law given to us; in fulfilling our mission as children of God. This is possible if we take Christ as the head of our body; of our community. This is possible as we take love as the ultimate law that will govern our life and our community.

GOVERNED BY LOVE

In one monastery, as the abbess and her nuns began their evening meditation, a cat who lived there made such a noise that it distracted all the nuns. So, the abbess ordered the cat to be tied up every evening during the prayers. Years later, when the abbess died, the cat continued to be tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery to be tied up. Centuries later, a learned scholar wrote a treatise about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice.

Have you ever thought of or questioned the things we usually do in our life, or you simply do it since it has always been like that or just because everyone else has been doing it?

There is a practical and logical reason for the things that we do in our communities. We wash our hands before eating a meal to avoid contracting diseases. We clean ourselves after going to a marketplace to remove dirt that we might bring inside our homes. The rules we adopt are meant to protect us and improve our way of life. Behind these rules and practices are logical and practical reasons meant to promote the welfare of the person. Unfortunately, sometimes, we lose track of this practical reason so much so that we keep on doing some unnecessary activities even after the original problems they ought to address had long been gone. In the process, we become slaves of the laws made in the past, putting aside the welfare of the person which should be the foremost concern of these laws and practices.

From 10 commandments, the Jews have created 613 other laws in order to practice the 10 more fervently. With all these laws, they have become slaves more than free men under God's grace. When Christ came, he reduced the 10 commandments rather than increase them. He reduced them to two: Love of God and love of neighbor. Love is the ultimate commandment that promotes the welfare of man who is the most precious creature in the eyes of God, having been created in His own image. Man is not just good, but very good for God (Genesis 1:20 - 2:4).

Is our life governed by this ultimate commandment of love? Or have we overburdened ourselves with practices which, more than promoting our welfare, have reduced us to slaves of laws and practices, the origin and rationale of which is unknown to us? There are only two commandments that will remain relevant anywhere and to anyone: Love of God and love of neighbor. Be governed by love at all time.

RECOGNIZING GOD'S LOVE

We have a brother who is a regular Sunday columnist in a leading broadsheet in the country. This is his form of preaching the good news. One Sunday, another brother told our brother-columnist in jest, "It is almost past the hour of twelve, and your news paper is still neatly folded. Why don't you crumple it yourself a little so it would appear that someone has read your article!" There are a lot of good things in this world which results from the best efforts of good people. How many of us appreciate them? 

God loves us, as He is love Himself. Through the Love incarnate, Christ, He proclaims and lives by loving: proclaiming liberty to captives of sin, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed. Christ has done wondrous things in our life. Through Christ, we experience God's love.

Sometimes, we fail to appreciate the graces and blessings we receive from God and easily dismiss them as mere coincidences or ordinary things (Who is this but Joseph's son?). We fail miserably to recognize the love of God. Our PREJUDICES AND BIASES prevent us from seeing God's work. We have our expectations. We hold on and insist on them but God has His own way. We lack faith to recognize the love of God manifested in His will for our lives.

Our failure to recognize Christ's love disables us to love like Jesus; to love God and our neighbor. Instead of love, hate and displeasure reigns in our heart, for we are not convinced of the power of Christ over our lives. Christ is the model of love we ought to pursue in faith. Without an inspiration, without experiencing God's love through Christ, we are at a loss on how to love. Faith and love compliment each other. Believing in the goodness each person possesses enables us to love even the unlovable. Loving enables us to believe this love is possible. Faith and love facilitates appreciation of the goodness of God and of neighbor, and moves us in faith to love our neighbor as God loves us.   

DESIRE OF THE HEART

As persons, we can love; that is to desire the good of others. Love ought to bring forth goodness. We have loved a lot of things and persons. We look around us and we see banners expressing love: I love Manila, I love Boracay, Lov ko ‘to, Napusuan ko na post mo (about social media posts). When asked to post wacky, we display a finger heart. But when we have a second look in our society, goodness remains wanting. Hatred and violence characterised our society. Why is that so? It is because our concept of love is distorted. The object of our love is not truly good. We have mistaken like for love. We do not love tourist spots. We do not love a fast food chain. We do not love a post. We like them. Love entails readiness to die for the beloved. Are you willing to die for a burger and fries? We have a disordered concept of love in as much as it is oriented towards a wrong object brought by an unclear notion of what is good. With childish disposition, we do not know what we love; what is good for us. We demand one thing, but in an instance, we change our mind. We are confused on what we truly love in life. We cannot make up our mind on what is good for (Mt 11:16-19). 

What do we love in life? Whom do we love in life?

The Lord teaches us what is good for us and lead us to the path where we should go (Is 48:17-19). The commandments of God point on what is good for us. These commandments are what God desires for us to be the objects of our love. God, Himself should be the object of our love. Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Mt 6:33). God and all that is good in Him is the proper object of our love. The rest is merely a manifestation of the former. We love a friend, even an enemy, in as much as we experience God in them. We care for things and properties in as much these God’s creation entrusted to us. We do not like to offend our beloved by bastardizing His creation; an extension of Himself. We love of we do, though how difficult it may be, in as much it is the will of God. Parents love being mothers and fathers to their children, though how difficult it may be to raise children nowadays because that is the desire of God for them. We please the One whom we love. We do everything that will make our Beloved happy.

Love brings good towards the beloved. This is true when a man truly loves a woman. It is different when a man loves God. Our efforts to love God do not add anything to God. He is all good. He has all the goods of this world. Our love of God, his commandments and will, brings goodness not to God but to us who love Him. Those who follow the Lord will have the light of life (John 8:12). By loving God, we can love the right things, deeds, and persons, as His goodness shed light towards the goods, we should desire in life. God is the desire of our hearts. 

THE ESSENTIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

I had the opportunity to preach in a celebration of the sacrament of matrimony. The marriage was of no ordinary kind. The couple had been civilly married for fourteen years. Despite their civil marriage, they thought of receiving the sacrament of holy matrimony.

According to Plato, humans originally had four arms, four legs, and a single head made of two faces. Humans were so strong that they threatened to conquer the gods. The gods wanted to destroy them but ceased to do so for fear of losing the tribute they receive from humans. Zeus thought of splitting humans into halves that would weaken them and would double the humans who would give tribute to them. So it happened. Humans were split into halves. And only when the two halves find each other, they can be whole and strong again.

By the standards of the Greeks,  this couple was already complete, and ought to be satisfied in their marital relationship. But still, they felt their union is incomplete. Though it was functioning and had borne three daughters, their relationship was incomplete.

They rightly pinned point that which is missing: the grace of God. Knowing this, they had attempted to be married in the Church for three times. For some reasons, they were impeded for three times. They never stopped pursuing and attaining God’s grace in the sacrament of holy matrimony. Thus, came the day they were married. The joy manifested in their glowing faces was inexplicable, after all, that marriage was fourteen years in the making. The grace they received could not be contained, moving them in tears. Finally, with Christ and His graces in their midst as a couple, their marriage is complete.

St. Augustine once said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You (Lord).”  This is true not only in our individual search for meaning in our life. It extends to our relationship with our fellow human persons. Our relationships are restless until they find rest in God; until God rest in our relationships; until Christ becomes the center and foundation of our human relationships. This leads us to the fact that in every successful relationship there would always be a third party: God. It is not limited to a You-and-I bond. For a relation to remain firm, despite the hurly-burly of life, it has to be solidly grounded on a sure foundation. And Christ alone is our rock.

With Christ present in a relationship, though it may be buffeted by suspicions, pounded by challenges, it will remain standing through the life-principles and graces that Christ imparts. With the teachings and commandments of Christ serving as guiding stars, topped with His very own presence as the steersman Himself, we can be assured that our love boats would reach the port of heaven. With Christ in the rudder of our relationships, even the most hellish marriage, responsibilities, and commitments can be heaven here on earth.

In the gospel (Lk 7:11-17), the touch (of presence) and words of Christ brought back to life an only son of a widowed mother. To lose a husband more so a son, one after the other, cause unimaginable pain and suffering to a woman. Thus, to have her son brought back to life is a cause for unimaginable joy to a mother. Her purpose to live was restored.

The presence of Christ made manifest in His touch, in His words, in His graces in our life, bring forth life, bring us forth to a complete life. When Christ touches us and speaks to us, we experience the fullness of life. And so, it is in anything and anyone that is honored by Christ’s presence. A life graced by the Lord of life is a life that begets life. A relationship graced by the Lord who is love is a relationship that will surely beget love. That is His grace at work in us to make us whole (again); to make us holy (again). What an honor?!? What a privilege?!?

The honor and privilege Christ bestows upon us behoove us towards a mission. The graces accompanying Christ’s presence (in the sacraments and other means) are powers that enable us to be whole; to be holy. But the graces we received are not meant for our own sanctification alone. Our Christian life always possesses a social dimension. The graces we receive sanctifies us, that in turn, we may sanctify others. As Christ brings us to life, we too ought to bring others to life (in Christ). And is this not the goal of every relationship, of every marriage, of every friendship? A husband leads his wife not to nag about unattended chores, and vices, but to cause her to utter kind words. Parents lead their children to become saints through words and examples. In our relationships, with Christ in our midst, we seek the good and holiness of others. We bring them forth to life (in Christ) as Christ has brought as to life.

In life, we long to be complete. Thus we seek for others that will complete us; our better half. We establish human relationships, and for many, marry. But still, our life, our love, and our relationship long to be complete. We remain incomplete until Christ grant us the privilege to grace and honor our life with His presence. As Christ brings us to a life of wholeness and holiness, He gives us a mission: to help others to be brought to the same life (in Christ); to be whole; to be holy. 

That is the essential for a successful marriage.