“JESUS I LOVE YOU!”

⏰Feast of St. John the Evangelist (27 December 2018)

📕1 John 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 (R.v.12a); John 20:2-8

There is one prayer which goes thus:

“Jesus l love you;

All l have is yours;

Yours l am;

Yours l want to be;

Do with me whatever you will.”

That prayer always forms two attributes of love in me: commitment and sacrifice. By extension, we can add a third which is transformation.

ln the life and teachings of the Beloved Apostle John, we see those three playing out in a great way. At the Last Supper, “he leaned close to the heart of Jesus” (John 13:23). That is a sign of love, faithfulness and commitment. Remember, this disciple stood with Jesus at the foot of the cross and Jesus had to entrust his mother Mary into his care (cf. John 19:26-27).

So he teaches us that to love Jesus is to lean close to his heart. Note that at the heart of Jesus is the love for the poor, the oppressed and the conversion of sinners.

Again, even though he died a natural death – the only one of the Apostles to enjoy that privilege – yet, he knew what it means to suffer for sake of the Gospel. At a time, he was thrown into a boiling oil but he came out of it unhurt.

Do you want to show how much you love Jesus? Allow yourself to be tranformed into a faithful disciple who would carry the new born Jesus to the poor, the oppressed and sinners. Remember that he says that “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me” (cf. Matt 25:34-45).

May God give us the grace of being faithful dispensers of his love on earth so that we can really convert the world for him. Amen.

Have a lovely day ahead. Peace be with you.