REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: AGAPE–OTHERS FIRST, NO MATTER
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa
In our gospel reading (John 15:9–17), Jesus gives us a new commandment. He says, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This commandment is not just a suggestion, but a fundamental aspect of our Christian identity. Let us explore what this love looks like in practice and how we can demonstrate it in our own lives, just as Jesus did on the cross.
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The Greek language, particularly Koine Greek, which is the language of the New Testament, employs various words to convey different forms of love, each with its own unique connotation. For example, Eros describes romantic love, passion, and intensity; Philia represents the deep bond of friendship and affectionate regard; Storgē describes unconditional love and connection within families between parents, children, and siblings; Filautia highlights the importance of self-love as a foundation for loving others; and Xenia represents the warmth of hospitality, love, and friendship extended to strangers and guests, in stark contrast to xenophobia and racism.
These distinctions in Greek terminologies for love (Eros, Philia, Storgē, Filautia, and Xenia) underscore the complexity and richness of human relationships. They also provide a deeper understanding of the various forms of love that are essential to Christian living.
However, when the New Testament proclaims that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), and “greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down their life for their friends” (John 15:13), it uses another Greek word for love known as agapē.
The Catholic Church uses the term “charity” (Latin: caritas) to describe this type of love (CCC 1822). Charity is the theological virtue that enables us to love God with a supreme and selfless love and our neighbor with a love that stems from our love for God. This love is supernatural and gratuitous, poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (CCC 1814–1816).
The Catholic Church uses the term “charity” to highlight the distinct nature of agape, a love that stems from our relationship with God and empowers us to love others with a divine love (CCC 1822). By characterizing agape as selfless, sacrificial, and divine, the Church emphasizes its role in defining God’s nature and His relationship with humanity. Moreover, agape is a profound and persistent sacrificial love that endures regardless of circumstances.
In today’s second reading (1 John 4:7–10), we find a profound declaration that resonates at the very core of our faith: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This declaration is a reiteration of the essence of God’s nature, as revealed throughout Scripture. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, “God is love, and in Himself He lives a mystery of personal loving communion” (CCC 221).
In today’s gospel passage (John 15:9–17), Jesus builds upon this foundational truth, instructing his disciples to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). This commandment is a call to participate in the very love of God, which has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). As St. John Chrysostom notes, “The commandment to love is not a burden, but a grace.”
By embracing this love, we experience the depths of God’s charity, which draws us into the divine life of the Trinity. As St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “The love of God is the very essence of God.” However, what does this love look like in practice?
Jesus vividly demonstrates it by washing his disciples’ feet, a task that ancient Jewish culture considered demeaning and reserved for the lowest servants or slaves (Genesis 18:4; 24:32; 43:24; Luke 7:44). In doing so, Jesus teaches us that humility and selflessness should characterize our love for one another (Matthew 20:26–28). As St. Augustine notes, “The Lord showed us what we ought to do, not only with our brothers, but even with our servants.”
As he says, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14–15). Love for one another must manifest itself in humble service, just as Jesus has shown us (Philippians 2:1–11).
But the greatest manifestation of Jesus’ love for his disciples occurs the following day on the cross: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Sacrifice is the ultimate test of love. And Jesus makes the ultimate sacrifice, laying down his life.
It’s easy to seek someone else’s welfare if it doesn’t inconvenience us. But what about when it does? What happens when our love for others requires us to: Give up our time and energy to serve others. Forgive those who have wronged us and seek reconciliation. Share our resources with those in need, even if it means sacrificing our own comfort. Listen to and support someone who is struggling, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Put the needs of others before our own, even when it’s hard.
These are the practical ways we can demonstrate agape love, just as Jesus did on the cross. By making sacrifices for others, we show that our love is more than just words; it’s a commitment to put others first, no matter the cost.
Let us pray that we may embrace the love that God has poured into our hearts, and may we demonstrate it in our own lives by loving one another as Jesus has loved us. May we be willing to make sacrifices for others, to put their needs before our own, and to love them with a divine love that endures regardless of circumstances. We ask for this grace from Christ, our Lord, who showed us the ultimate manifestation of love on the cross. Amen.
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