“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)

What does it really mean to love others “just as Jesus has loved us”?

Jesus did not simply issue this command from on high; He personally demonstrated it for us. He humbled Himself, took off His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, and washed the dust from His disciples’ feet.

If even God Himself is willing to kneel down and serve us in such an incredibly humble way, then we truly have no excuse not to do the same to serve one another.

Yet what is striking is that the washing of feet was only the beginning. This act reveals to us what “Servant Leadership” truly is. As beautiful as this image is, it is only the relatively easier part.

Jesus then showed us the ultimate expression of His love: He stretched out His arms on the cross and gave His life for us!

This perfect example fulfills His own mission statement: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

This is the extent of love that Jesus asks of us. It is indeed incredibly hard, because it means we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others. But to truly live out this new commandment, we must not only embrace the call to self-sacrifice—we must also not “choose” whom we are willing to sacrifice for.

St. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:6–8 that Christ died for us while we were still weak and still sinners—this is how God proves His love for us.

Furthermore, Jesus explicitly instructs us not to limit our service only to those we care about or those who “deserve” it.

In Luke 14:12–14, He tells us that when we host a banquet, we should not invite our friends or wealthy neighbours who can repay us; rather, we should invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind—those who cannot repay us.

These are precisely the people Jesus is especially concerned about: the Last, the Least, and the Lost.

Jesus teaches, “The last will be first” (Matthew 20:16); and that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40); and He came “to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

Therefore, if we want to find Jesus, draw close to Him, and listen to His voice, we know clearly where He is: Jesus is present among the poor and the broken.

Yet we must honestly admit that Jesus’ standard is extremely high. Where can we find the strength to live this out? What motivation can move us to shift our focus toward others—to reach out in love—rather than being preoccupied with our own interests?

A “kind heart” or human willpower alone is not enough to sustain a life of service. If we rely only on ourselves, we will eventually run dry.

The source of our service must be deeply rooted in Jesus’ perfect love. In fact, Jesus tells us that when we serve others, we are serving Him. We must use His Sacred Heart to serve Jesus through serving the least.

Therefore, the foundation of our self-giving must be firmly rooted in God’s love.

Unless we remain in constant communion with Him and continually draw from His infinite love, we will quickly exhaust the “fuel” of our lives.

If we do not carry the love of Jesus within us, we may serve for a while out of enthusiasm, but we cannot persevere. For we cannot give what we do not have. Without God, we are all weak and broken. We are fully capable of betraying Jesus like Judas, or denying Him three times like Peter when He needs us most.

Thus, we must continually return to the source:“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) Once you have truly tasted God’s love, everything you do will be utterly transformed.

A reflection by a Jesuit priest Fr. Joseph P. Whelan, S.J. beautifully captures this dynamic of love: “Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than Falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”

Now, let us truly sense how deeply we are loved, and listen again with new eyes to what Jesus says to us:

“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)

Reflection

In my daily life or community, who are the “last, the least, and the lost”? How is Jesus inviting me to serve them?

Do I unconsciously choose whom to love and serve based on “who can repay me” or “who is easier to love”?

What currently drives how I live each day and spend my weekends? What brings me joy and excitement? Is it God—or something else?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, You command me to love others just as You have loved me. I confess that on my own, I am so weak and broken. When the cross becomes heavy, I shrink back in weakness and may even betray or deny You.

Forgive me for choosing whom I love. Teach me to seek You among the last, the least, and the lost. I know I cannot give what I do not have, so I ask You to fill my heart with Your infinite grace. Help me to fall in love with You in the absolute and final way.

May this divine love shape my daily life, my choices, and how I serve others. Keep me always in Your love, now and forever.

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Lyrics:
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love in an absolute and final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed,
what you do with your evenings,
What you read, what you sing,
whom you know, whom you serve,
What breaks your heart,
What soothes your pain
How you will spend your Saturdays
Where you will go on Christmas Day
What fills your heart with joy
What fills your heart with thanks
Let’s fall in Love,
Let’s stay in love,
It will decide everything.
Copyright © Vansie Kwok, 2014, All Rights Reserved

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