Sunday
18 May 2025- V Sunday of Easter
Mass Readings: Acts:
14:21b-27 Ps 145 Rev
21:1-5a Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35.
Key Verse to meditate: A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved
you, that you also love one another (Jn 13:34).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The Fifth Sunday of
Easter comes to us with the profound commandment to love one another. The First
Reading draws our attention to the apostolic mission of St. Paul and St.
Barnabas. These two giants of faith, through their endurance and suffering for
the sake of the Gospel, exemplify how deeply they understood and lived out the
commandment of love that Jesus entrusted to them. The Church, as the Body of
Christ, becomes the living symbol of this new commandment of love that Christ
desires all Christians to embody.
The Second Reading, taken
from the Book of Revelation, speaks of the passing away of the old-world order
and the emergence of a new reality where God dwells among His people, wiping
away every tear. It is a vision of hope and renewal. God will care for His
people and guide them to live in holiness.
Today’s Gospel, drawn
from the Farewell Discourse at the Last Supper, places Jesus’ commandment of
love at the center of Christian discipleship. This moment follows the washing
of the disciples’ feet and the departure of Judas. In the intimacy of this moment,
Jesus offers His final teaching before His Passion: “Love one another as I have
loved you” (Jn 13:34).
The First Reading
The First Reading from
the Acts of the Apostles recounts the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas
in Lystra and Derbe, where Paul was stoned. Despite their sufferings, they
returned to Lystra, Iconium, and then to Antioch in Syria. Their primary concern
was to strengthen the souls of the disciples and encourage them to remain
faithful. Through their hardships, they taught an essential truth of Christian
discipleship: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”
(Acts 14:22).
They also exercised
apostolic leadership by appointing elders for each local Church with prayer and
fasting (Acts 14:23). Even upon reaching Antioch, they did not cease to bear
witness to the grace of God that sustained them during trials. Their testimony
proclaimed the powerful presence of God accompanying them in their missionary
journey. Most importantly, they rejoiced that God had opened the door of faith
to the Gentiles, many of whom came to believe through Paul’s preaching.
The Second Reading
In the Second Reading,
taken from the Book of Revelation, St. John presents a glorious vision of hope:
a new heaven and a new earth. The first creation, with all its suffering, is
passing away. In its place emerges a renewed reality marked by God’s abiding
presence and the complete healing of His people.
St. John’s vision
fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah, where the new creation is described as a
place of joy and exultation (Is 65:16–18). In this renewed world, God Himself
will dwell among His people: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men. He
will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with
them” (Rev 21:3; cf. Ezek 37:27; Lev 26:11–12). This promise is the culmination
of the covenant—a permanent, enduring communion with God.
God will wipe away every
tear. Death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. These former things,
associated with the trials and tribulations of earthly life, will vanish in the
presence of the risen Christ. The voice from the throne declares, “Behold, I
make all things new” (Rev 21:5). This is the hope of the Christian: not merely
an escape from suffering, but a transformation of all things through the power
of Christ’s resurrection.
The Gospel
Reading
The Gospel passage, situated within the context of the
Last Supper, presents part of Jesus' farewell discourse. After the washing of
the disciples’ feet and the departure of Judas, Christ the Lord gives His
disciples a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved them.
Today’s Gospel passage, situated between these two
significant events, is part of the Farewell Discourse. It begins with the
announcement of Jesus’ glorification through His death, immediately after Judas
leaves the Last Supper scene (Jn 13:31–32). John does not explain the reason
for Judas’ departure in this passage, but he had already mentioned earlier that
Judas was influenced by the devil to betray Jesus: “And during supper, the
devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to
betray Him” (Jn 13:2).
Jesus had indirectly revealed this in His earlier
words to the disciples, referring to Judas when He said: “He who has bathed
needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but
not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason, He
said, “Not all of you are clean” (Jn 13:10–11).
Jesus now begins to tell the remaining eleven that His
"hour" has arrived—the time for the glorification of the Son of Man.
This glorification would take place through His suffering and death on the
cross and would culminate in His resurrection. Through this, the ruler of the
world would be defeated, and believers would be invited to exalt Christ the
Savior. Jesus, the Son of Man, would be glorified by God through His obedient
death, and in turn, God the Father would be glorified in the Son.
The New
Commandment
In this passage, Jesus also gives a new commandment to
His disciples, addressing them affectionately as “little children” (cf. 1 Jn
2:1; 3:7; 4:4): “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn 13:34).
The love Christ had for His disciples becomes the
model for how they should love one another. This love had already been
demonstrated through His actions at the Last Supper. Judas, one of the
apostles, failed to understand this example of Christ’s self-giving love and
chose to leave the community. Jesus tells the others that they cannot follow
Him immediately on the path of suffering and death, though they will follow Him
later (Jn 13:36). This is due to the limited time left with their beloved
Master (Jn 16:16) and their inability to comprehend or endure His passion and
return to the Father (Jn 13:33; cf. 7:34; 8:21).
The disciples are likely perplexed and distressed at
the thought of His departure.
The
Commandment to Love is Emphasized
Jesus' focus, however, is on forming a new community
grounded in love: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you…By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34–35).
Jesus foresaw the possibility of discord and disunity
among His followers after His departure. Therefore, He emphasizes that the
apostles must become examples of love and mutual acceptance. Their love would
be the clearest sign that they belonged to Christ, who had loved them to the
very end (Jn 13:1). This same commandment is reiterated later: “This is My
commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love
has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:12–13).
Jesus makes it clear that they are His friends only if
they obey His commandments: “You are My friends if you do what I command you”
(Jn 15:14). Thus, in today’s passage, Jesus affirms that they will be
recognized as His disciples only if they love like Him: “By this all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).
The Character
of Judas
We see how Jesus gently indicated Judas as the
betrayer. Though deeply troubled, Jesus still treated him with dignity and gave
him a final opportunity for conversion. Typically, the first morsel dipped and
shared was reserved for the guest of honor. Jesus offered it to Judas, thereby
giving him a place of significance even at the moment of betrayal.
“What you do, do quickly” (Jn 13:27).
“So after receiving the morsel, he went out
immediately; and it was night” (Jn 13:30).
It is striking that the other disciples did not
understand Jesus’ actions toward Judas. Jesus’ gesture is truly admirable. He
knew Judas would betray Him, yet He extended the highest form of hospitality
and did not restrain him from his evil plan. Jesus gave him the freedom to
act—even to do wrong. This is divine love.
Despite living with Jesus, hearing His preaching,
witnessing His miracles, and sharing in His ministry, Judas remained unmoved.
He chose money over the Messiah. It is sobering to consider that one can be
close to Christ physically and still remain untouched spiritually.
The betrayal by Judas is a prime example of human
wickedness. Throughout history, people have betrayed loved ones—friends,
spouses, parents, siblings. In Judas, this betrayal reaches its peak, as it is
directed against Jesus, the very Word (Logos) of God—the source of all
meaningful relationships.
Yet, even in Judas’ betrayal, God's plan unfolds. This
sinful act becomes the very means through which the Spirit of love is sent into
the world to redeem humanity.
Points for
Personal Reflection
This love is not sentimental or abstract—it is
self-giving, sacrificial, and redemptive. Jesus loves us to the end, laying
down His life for us. And He calls us to imitate that same love: a love that
forgives, that serves, that endures suffering, and that seeks the good of
others, even at a personal cost. The new commandment is the essence of the
Christian life. It is how the world will recognize us as His disciples (Jn
13:35).
Do I love my brothers and sisters as Jesus loves me?
What impact does Christ’s commandment of love have on my daily life?
Have I truly realized how deeply Christ loves me despite my failures and weaknesses?
In my experience of God’s mercy, whom do I resemble more: Judas or Simon Peter?
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, as we journey through this Easter season, we are reminded today that love is not merely an emotion but a divine command—a way of life modeled by Christ and witnessed in the lives of His apostles. Let us ask the Lord to help us grow in this love: a love that builds up the Church, strengthens the suffering, embraces the outsider, and reflects the presence of God in the world.
May we be renewed in the hope of the new creation, where God will dwell among us and wipe away every tear. Until then, let us love one another deeply, for love is the true mark of a Christian-Amen.
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