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Gospel Reading for May 18, 2025 – John 13: 31-33a, 34-35
WE GLORIFY GOD
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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Jesus knew that when Judas left, the hour of suffering had drawn near. If we were in the place of Jesus, how would we have felt? What would we have done? Would we have told everyone what Judas was about to do so that the other disciples will stop him or would we have escaped? Surely, there was enough time for Jesus to hide. Perhaps, his followers and the many people he helped would give him shelter.
But, Jesus knew he had to go through extreme suffering in the hands of his people out of love for God and his people. Then, he gives them the commandment to love. Why? Was he preparing them to forgive those who will cause Jesus to suffer? Was he equating love with God’s glorification?
Truly, whenever we love those who hate us or those who make us suffer, WE GLORIFY GOD because it is only because he shared with us his image and likeness that we are able to do from our hearts, this very difficult thing. No wonder, Jesus speaks about loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors. When we are able to do this, our image will always be aligned with God’s image.
Let us ponder on this hymn written by the late Fr. Ed Hontiveros, S.J., KAIBIGAN, KAPANALIG –
Ang atas ko sa inyo
mga kaibigan ko:
ay magmahalan kayo,
tulad ng pagmamahal ko sa inyo.
May hihigit pa kayang dakila
sa pag-ibig na laang
ialay ang buhay
alang-alang sa kaibigan.
Kayo nga’y kaibigan ko
kung matutupad ninyo
ang iniaatas ko.
Kayo’y di na alipin
kundi kaibigan ko.
Lahat ng mula sa Ama
nalahad ko na sa inyo.
Kayo’y hinirang ko,
di ako ang hinirang niyo.
Loob kong humayo kayo
at magbunga ng ibayo.
Ito na ang siyang utos ko
na bilin ko sa inyo.
Magmahalan kayo!
Magmahalan kayo!
