The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
Today’s gospel calls us to love one another. I’m not sure about you but I have had the hardest time loving those around me this past year. Between the pandemic and political & racial tension - it has been a challenge to say the least.
So then what does it mean to remain in His love?
It means to be Christ to all you encounter.
It means to bear good fruit.
So often, especially in this past year, I have avoided my relationship with Christ. I’ve been passive and very much let it slide. As I was reading todays reading it struck me. Christ not only wants us to be in relationship with Him for our own sake but for that of neighbor. Nurturing the tree of our relationship with Christ equips us to love others deeply. I’ve had to do many heart checks this past year and I couldn’t help but notice how I wasn’t nurturing the tree that bears loving fruit. My prayer life was non-existent, Mass became a chore, and God and I only spoke when I needed something. I wasn’t bearing any fruit. I wasn’t loving my neighbor.
The beautiful thing about God is that even in the most challenging of times He equips us to love others deeply and receive His love deeply. I began to think about when was the last time that I really prayed? When was the last time I asked God to help me grow in love for my neighbor?
I have been meditating on this line from today’s gospel, “so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
Lord, help us to truly love our neighbor.
Help us to nurture our relationship with you.
Help us to bear good fruit.
Amen.
Chenele Shaw is a former youth minister and theology teacher and a current young adult trying to live her life for Christ, frequent her therapist, and eat all the cheese! She desires to be her authentic self and help others as well. You can find her watching reality tv, going to confession, and updating her Spotify playlists. Follow her on Instagram and say hey!