Unconditional Love - Without Reservation

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ

In today’s gospel reading (John 15:9-17) we learn about the relationship between Jesus and his apostles. A relationship built upon unconditional love. However, unconditional love can be costly. Those who express true love, are willing to sacrifice everything they have for the ones they loved. God took on the responsibility for our sins and paid the price for our redemption — the sacrifice of his only begotten Son. That's the nature of unconditional love and friendship which is described in today’s Gospel. If we are true friends, then we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another. Jesus tells us that he is our friend and he loves us whole-heartedly and unconditionally. We are commanded to love one another just as God loves us, unconditionally and without reservations. If we surrender ourselves to God, His love will fill our hearts and transforms our minds. It will free us to give ourselves in loving service to others. It is easy to make this sacrifice to our best friends, but are we willing to make this sacrifice to those we don’t even know. Jesus came to save the entire world, not just those that were close to him. His love abounded for all. If we truly open our hearts to his love and obey his commandment to love our neighbor, then we experience abundant joy and happiness in our service.

A Simple Prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola

"Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve,

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to toil and not to seek for rest,

to labor and not to ask for any reward,

save that of knowing that we do your will;

through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon