What Is Love?

May 5: Sixth Sunday of Easter

In anticipation of the new Planet of the Apes movie, I’ve been reading the original novel for the first time. So imagine my surprise when I read the name Cornelius in today’s first reading!

This has nothing to do with anything. It’s just funny to me.

Reading 1

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, "Get up. I myself am also a human being."

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him."

While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?" He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Later this week, we’ll be seeing a relic of St. Jude, the Apostle of the Impossible. Fr. Carlos Martins, the director of Treasures of the Church, tells a lot of amazing stories about St. Jude in this video—

Venerating saint’s relics seems weird to non-Catholics, but the important (and obvious) thing to remember is that the saints are people. They’re not God (or “gods”). They can’t directly perform miracles, only intercede on our behalf.

And that’s exactly what Peter is talking about in this first reading. He is “also a human being,” just like Cornelius.¹

And while we may have our differences, no matter where we’re from, God loves everyone, and accepts everyone who loves Him. Peter confirms this visibly, which is what a sacrament is—a visible sign of invisible grace. At one time, that was circumcision for the Jews; now it’s baptism for all Christians.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

It’s been said that the Old Testament is about preparing the Chosen People to bring about the Messiah. That’s why God focuses on a small nation in a limited region. But once Jesus became incarnate, He made His universal mission known. He’s not some provincial deity—He’s the Lord of All.

Reading 2

1 Jn 4:7-10

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

This passage is foundational to our understanding of the Holy Trinity. Love can’t exist in a vacuum; love is something that must be shared. Therefore, the only way for God to be love is if He is more than one Person. Bishop (at the time Father) Barron explains it nicely—

Alleluia

Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Love isn’t a feeling; it’s something you do.

Gospel

Jn 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

The Bible contains a lot of rules, and the Church gives us even more. But at the core of all of them is love—willing the good of the other as other. Wanting to do good for someone for their sake, not our own.

We’re able to do this because God loved us first. In most other religions, humans seek out gods, who are largely indifferent to them. Our God, the true and living God, loves us so much that He created us out of nothing. Then, when our forebears rejected Him, He sent His only son to die for us.

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