The Measure of Love

John 13:31-33, 34-35

A. There was a girl who was born without an ear.
a. She became a shy and introverted person.
b. There were times when she would go home crying because her
classmates made fun of her.
c. When she became a teen-ager, her mother brought her to surgeon
who could do an ear transplant on her.
d. The operation was successful.
e. She became a normal and happy person.
f. It was not long when she had a boyfriend.
g. After several years, she decided to get married.
h. On the eve of her wedding day, she went inside her mother’s room
to thank her.
i. But as she embraced her, she noticed something strange… something
absent.
j. She realized that beneath the long hair of her mother was a missing
ear.
k. She cried and said, “It was you! All these years you didn’t tell me it
was you.”
l. And the mother replied, “My child, I didn’t tell you because I don’t
want you to be sad for me.
m. I did it because I want you to be happy, to see you happy with your
life.
n. Because, you don’t lose something when you give it to someone you
love.”
B. While the world is teaching us to use and exploit people to our own
advantage,
a. While the world is teaching us of a Corruption!
b. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching us to live in his love.
c. Why? Because by loving one another we love Christ.
d. -And love is not something begged or dictated.
e. But it is something earned and freely given.
f. And, we can be known as truly his disciples by our love for one
another.
g. What right does Jesus have to tell us to love one another?
h. We only have to look at the crucifix, and we can the answer why.
 i. The crucifix reminds us that he had freely given us the example, that
love is stronger than sin.
j. Jesus had not condemned Magdalene, Jesus had helped the
conversion of tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus,
k. Jesus was not afraid to touch and heal the sick,
l. Jesus stretched out his hand to the lepers,
m. Jesus whispered forgiveness to the good thief.
C. Love can renew life.
a. Love can cleanse sin.
b. Love can conquer death.
c. This is the reason why we have to love one another,
d. Not in the measure of our human ability nor how others can return
our love,
e. But because God has loved us.
f. For Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
g. Your husband, for instance, may not be a perfect husband,
h. Yet you have to love him not because he has met your expectations,
but as Jesus has loved us.
i. Your wife may have her weaknesses and shortcomings,
j. But as Jesus has loved us, you must love her.
k. You may have frustrations with your children,
l. But you continue to love them because of love of Jesus.
D. This principle is applied to all the people around us, whether they are our
friends or our enemies.
a. In short, the measure of love is Jesus.
b. This simply means love has transcended all the human standards.
c. Love can find its real meaning and perfection in the divine love that
Jesus unconditionally manifested to us.
E. St.John wrote,
a. No one has ever seen God,
b. but if we love one another,
c. God lives in us, and his love spreads freely among us…
d. Therefore, If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ while he hates his brother, he
is a liar.
e. How can we love God whom does not see us - if we don’t love our
brother whom He sees?
F. In the offertory part of the Mass,
 a. We notice the wine pours into the chalice
b. And then a little water is added.
c. The wine is strong and powerful.
d. It represents the love of God.
e. The water is weak and powerless.
f. This represents our love.
g. But when the water is mixed with the wine,
h. It becomes one with the water and is invigorated and strengthened.
i. It is consecrated and raised up as a chalice of salvation.
G. Let our love be mingled with Christ’s love.
a. May it be a chalice of renewal,
b. a spirit of healing and forgiveness,
c. a sign of hope and discipleship.
d. May God inspire us to pour it out until the end.