KC Jones was a
former coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team. He guided the Larry
Bird-led Celtics to championships in 1984 and 1986. As a coach, he was known
for his unique ability to give his players unforgettable words of encouragement
when they needed it most. If a player scored 50 points or made the winning-game
basket, Jones would simply say: “nice game.” But when a player was really down
and struggling, Coach Jones would be there to comfort and inspire him. Once,
All-Star forward Kevin McHale asked him about this. Coach Jones replied:
“Kevin, after making the winning basket, you’ve got 15,000 people cheering for
you.; TV Commentators come rushing towards you and everybody is giving you high
fives. You don’t need me then. When you need a friend most, is when nobody is
cheering.”
Today’s gospel (Jn 13:31-33,34-35) is
Jesus’ way of inspiring his followers when they need it the most. He commands
them: Love one another. The context of this episode was at the Last Supper. It
was in the context of Judas’ betrayal. By now, Judas was intent to destroy
Jesus by selling him for thirty pieces of silver. Though Jesus knew it well, he
insisted to teach them a lesson of love. It was a love beyond betrayal; a love
that was life-giving and overflowing. Jesus understood that the only way to
defeat hate and evil is through love.
This makes love the
greatest commandment. The Old Testament teaching places love as the highest
obligation. As a great teacher, Jesus summarizes all of God’s commandments into
one word – love. Love, then, is the essence of Christianity. A Christian is a
great lover. Even St. Paul affirms that in the end, only three things last:
faith, hope and love. The greatest is love. Love is the most God-like quality.
God does not have faith or hope. But God is love.
Moreover, love will
give the greatest meaning of our life. The greatest regret people will have at
their death bed is that they have not love enough. Most people, in their final
hours will apologize. They will ask for sorry for what they have not done. Most
of all, they will say: I love you to their family and friends. At the end of
our life, if we have love much, that would be enough. Because if we have not
loved, we are nothing.
Prayer: Lord, make me understand that love gives great meaning to my life. Amen.
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