“Love one another as I have loved you.”

These words spoken by Jesus in our Gospel this weekend hit me differently this weekend. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples before they faced His death, which was so hard for them.  Jesus knew the challenges they would face, and this was His parting message.

I think about loving one another and it sounds easy to do, yet really it isn’t. I would not argue that we have a desire to love all. But, when the rubber hits the road, it is easy to cast judgement and not fully love another person, especially if they are different from us, do things we don’t like, or just rub us the wrong way. Jesus is calling us to not only love one another, but to do so with the unconditional love that He loves us with. THAT IS REALLY HARD!

We hold such power in choosing to love and or not love a person. I feel like this is our challenge this week, especially as we are collectively facing a transition many are opposed to. May we love unconditionally and resist the temptation to judge the unknown…be open and receptive to how the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, in our parish and trusting in His will.