GOD Is Glorified In HIM

"After saying this, JESUS was distressed in spirit, and said plainly, 'Truly, one of you will betray ME.'  The disciples then looked at one another, wondering whom HE meant.  One of the disciples, the one JESUS loved, was reclining near JESUS; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask JESUS whom HE meant.

And the disciple, who was reclining near JESUS, asked HIM, 'LORD, who is it?'  JESUS answered, 'I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one.'

So JESUS dipped the bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.  As Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him, 'What are you going to do, do quickly.'

None of the others, reclining at the table, understood why JESUS had said this to Judas.  As Judas had the common purse, they may have thought that JESUS was telling him, 'Buy what we need for the feast,' or, 'Give something to the poor.'  Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread.  It was night.

When Judas had gone out, JESUS said, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and GOD is glorified in HIM.  GOD will glorify HIM, and HE will glorify HIM very soon.

MY children, I AM with you for only a little while; you will look for ME, but as I already told the Jews, now I tell you: where I AM going you cannot come.  I give you a new commandment: Love one another!  Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are MY disciples, if you have love for one another.'

Simon Peter said to HIM, 'LORD, where are YOU going?  JESUS answered, 'Where I AM going you cannot follow ME now, but afterward you will.'  Peter said, 'LORD, why can't I follow YOU now?  I am ready to give my life for YOU.'  'To give your life for ME?'  JESUS asked Peter.  'Truly I tell you, the cock will not crow, before you have denied ME three times.'" - John 13:21-38  

(I give you a new commandment.  That is to say, a commandment appropriate for the advent of a new era.  The Old Testament spoke of interior fidelity to GOD and love of neighbor, but this message often remained hidden among the complexities of the law.  Besides, there are many ways of loving: even a fanatically religious person can claim to be loving GOD.  In the New Testament JESUS says that love of GOD is the highest law.  The example given by the LORD during HIS earthly life reminds us of the way to love.

Love that is like GOD's aims at liberating our neighbor and enabling her to fully develop her God-given gifts.  Love like the LORD's helps the neighbor become what GOD wishes her to be, by passing through death to resurrection.

Moreover, when we go deeper into the mystery of divine love revealed to us through JESUS, our love becomes merged with the eternal love of GOD that alone, in the end, shall permeate all we do.  True love comes from GOD and makes us return to unity within GOD.

Time and again, JESUS points out the unique importance of Christian love.  Later, HIS apostles [e.g., 1 John 4:7 ff.] and the Church would sum up HIS teaching on love: Love of GOD is shown through love of our neighbor, love of our neighbor depends on love of GOD.  What is it really to love GOD?  The great saints and mystics of the Church tell us that love of GOD is not "to feel GOD," to feel devotion or affection for GOD.  Christian love lies not in sentiment or feelings [though on some occasions we might feel affection or devotion, which is helpful]; to love GOD is to be determined to do what GOD wishes at each moment of our lives.  What GOD wishes of us regarding our neighbor is that we render loving service and forgiveness.)

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