As the father has loved me, so I have loved you (John 15:9).
We have heard these words from John 15:9 many times, but do we believe that these words apply to us as well? We may have been touched in some way by them, and yet not really grasped the radical truth behind them. Let's first take a look at what Jesus means when he says, "As the Father has loved me." Let's also consider a few instances in Jesus' life where we get a glimpse into how much the Father loves his Son.
When Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). Jesus was God's dearest treasure, the apple of his eye, and he wanted to make sure that everyone around knew how precious he was to him.
Then again, at Jesus' transfiguration, God announced: "This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 17:5). God was pleased with his Son and honored him by raising him to heavenly status that day on the mountain, making his clothes brilliant white and his face to shine like the sun. Again, we get a glimpse into the purity, passion, and power in the love that the Father has for Jesus.
So what does this have to do with us? Everything! Jesus is telling us that he loves us in the same way and with the same intensity that the Father loves him. He is well pleased with us; we are his beloved, dear to his heart. We are the apple of his eye, a shining jewel in his sight.
Can we believe this truth when we fail to honor him? When we fall into sin or become complacent in our faith? We certainly can! But it is important to remember that Jesus died to pay for all those times we fail him. All we have to do is turn away from whatever is drawing us away from him and turn toward him and the light of his love.
The more we soak up his power and light in the Sacraments, prayer, and worship, the more we will be able to understand and experience the depths of his love for us. Jesus chooses to love us every moment of every day. May we never let our own difficulties, or the busyness of our days, cause us to forget this awesome truth! May we come to understand and experience Jesus' love more deeply so that we can give it to others.
"Jesus, you make my joy complete with your love. I will choose to love you today, and always, just as you have chosen to love and keep me for the rest of my life."
Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing me to adapt material from daily meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. In what ways did God the Father demonstrate his great love for Jesus? In what ways does Jesus demonstrate his great love for you?
2. What is your reaction to the Scripture, "As the father has loved me, so I have loved you"?
3. How have these words impacted how you live out your Christian life?
4. What are some obstacles that keep you from understanding and experiencing Jesus' love for you?
If you are in a men's group, pray for one another at the end of your meeting to know and experience more deeply Jesus' great love for you. Use the prayer at the end of the article as a starting point.
