Jesus’ new commandment is my guide. Given on the night in which he was betrayed, this is the word of a man who knows death is imminent. Jesus realizes he doesn’t have much time, so he imparts these final words, the last instructions for his ragtag team of followers, right after humbling himself and washing their feet.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34). Our primary task in life with Christ is to love.
In response to rising Islamophobia, I invited a speaker from our local mosque to teach us about Islam. Our congregation co-hosted “Understanding Islam” with another ELCA congregation. Our speaker was gracious and informative.
When we remain silent or when we join the voices that call for more violence, more separation, more hatred, we risk giving others the impression that this is what God wants. But Jesus follows up his new commandment by telling the disciples (all of us!), “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This message is excerpted from “Love one another” by Michelle Terry in the March 2016 Café online magazine. Today is Maundy Thursday. Today we commemorate Albrecht Durer, 1528; Matthias Grunewald, 1529; Lucas Cranach, 1553; artists.
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