Mandatum novum
A
new commandment I give you, That you love one another; as I have loved you. By
this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another. John 13:34-35
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before the Easter. It derived
its name from the latin word mandatum. It is the first word of the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis
invicem sicut dilexi vos.” These were his last words of instructions found
in John 13:34 to his disciples before he went to his death.
So was this a new commandment? Moses had already handed down
the 10 commandments. But over 1000
years the Jews of Jesus day as Philip Yancy says, had
identified 613 major laws from the Old Testament and accepted more than a
thousand governing behavior just on the Sabbath. This Yancy said led to a
pride in keeping the law. Which in the end rarely led to inner peace or love
for one another.
Could the common man keep track of all these laws? Jesus came to show us a new way where we were free to love and care for one another. Jesus was emphasizing to his disciples that he wanted the primary
mark of distinction for his disciples to be their deep love for one another. Our
love for one another should be faithful and sincere.
Is it not ironical that before he gave the new commandment,
he had already told the disciples that Judas was going to betray him? Just
after he gave the commandment he told Peter he would deny him three times. The
ones Jesus was giving the commandments were already going to break them.
Here was Jesus telling them, that we may betray each other,
we may be inconsistent in so many ways, but let us strive to be a family which
despite its idiosyncrasies we strive to be united in love. We strive to work for
compassion, peace and justice.
Just as our faith in God increases day by day so should our
love for each other increase day by day. We should go out of the way to lend a
helping hand. We should carry each other’s burdens. We should forgive
and pray for one another.
This new commandment was given to the disciples following
the washing of the feet. Jesus was showing there was dignity in serving the
needs of others. This action is easily understood as a sign of humility all
over the world. Whether it is the archbishop of Canterbury or the Pope at the
Vatican they all find great rewards in continuing this ceremony over the years.
It is a call to love and serve one another in actions and in truth. Do you hear Jesus calling you today to follow him?
Prayer of St. Francis (Little poor man of Assisi)
Lord, make me an instrument of your
peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
2 comments:
You are right that love seems to be the key to right living and attitudes. In a sermon yesterday Jacob Cherian here said that "God is love" is one of the most profound verses of the Bible.
God has loved all of us even when we were sinners. That is why Jesus encourages us to love everybody even though we may not even know them. But God loves them.
The other day I gave a leprosy patient who came begging for money a larger sum of money than what I usually give to the normal beggars. The man was very grateful. He was genuinely surprised and said this was only the second time in his whole life that some one had given him such a large sum.I felt blessed because Jesus said to give without counting the cost.
Later I asked myself, was that impulsive love? A love that gives without counting the cost.
There are times when God pours love into our lives to be channels of God's love. There times we feel an extraordinary abundance of love. The Holy Spirit lead us to give more to some on certain occasion. Love is not just giving money but also spending time and speaking with the one you are reaching out to and enabling them to feel blessed just as you have been blessed.
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