Homily on John 13: 21-33,36-38: Sacrificial Love

Homily on John 13:21-33. 36-38,: No love without suffering (Tuesday the 15th of April, 2025)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

An internal war was happening in America. An efficient commander was the commander-in -chief of a battalion of Virginia. His son was Carter. One day, he met his son leading the opposition party against Virginia on the warfront. It was a shocking scene. He didn’t fight that day but returned home. Evening, his son too came back home. He called his son Carter and told him: “Go, Carter, do what you conceive to be your duty. Virginia, to which you are a traitor, should go on without you”.

As the father of Carter in the story, In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says an  ‘Yes’ for the crucifixion -for the martyrdom he is about to receive. It is natural to be wounded by enemies, but being hurt by a friend is really painful. Blessed Mary of Cruxifix quotes:”Always remember to love your neighbour; always prefer the one who tries your patience, who test your virtue, because with her you can always merit: suffering is Love; the Law is Love.” This is a model she acquired from Jesus who loved through suffering.

The great value that Jesus has upheld is, to suffer himself saving and satisfying others while Peter and Judas acted selfishly to impress their friends and save life. The cost Jesus paid for keeping relationship and love  is His life. It was the will of heavenly father to save the mankind through Jesus. Jesus surrendered before God’s will. He also paid his life even to redeem Judas  who betrayed and  Peter who denied him.  This verse is a core tenet of  Jesus Christ’s love to entire humanity despite of the weakness and strength, richness and poverty, beauty and ugliness… He loved all not for him but for His Father and to provide salvation.

We limit our bonds to whomever we want and approach them in our needs like a use and throw culture. It is replicated in families, religious spheres, student communities, political fields and so on. Human lives are mere considered as commodities. Quotations are planned to eliminate rivals, rumours are propagated to diminish even own fellow beings, brutal murders takes place out of emotional bursts. The distance between hearts increase as love decreases. Searching for own wishes and fulfilling one’s desires we forget to consider our neighbours. Walls are constructed to secure lives but it hides each other. Here Jesus challenges us who loved and respected even His betrayers

 As the father of Carter in the story let us also respect others and be ready to sacrifice our wishes and wants for others to save and keep them in love. Jesus guides us to love our enemies and travel an extra mile for them. Journeying through this Lenten season let us examine our faithfulness in relationships to God and fellow beings.

Do I abandon God for fulfilling my needs and desires? Am I a person who betrays or cheats others for my wishes and wants? Let us accept small trials and pains… As Mother Teresa of Kolkata states:” Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies”

Oh faithful Jesus help us to value relationships and love You and others even suffering pain.

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God Bless…