Daily Reflection
Select a Date
Reflection for May 8, 2026
The Command of Love and Abiding in Christ
John 15:12-17 presents a profound teaching from Jesus Christ on the essence of discipleship: love. This passage, delivered during the Last Supper, encapsulates the new commandment given to His followers and illuminates the intimate relationship between Christ, His disciples, and the Father.
The New Commandment: Love One Another
Jesus states, This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12). This is not merely a suggestion but a divine imperative. The standard for this love is Christ's own sacrificial love, which He demonstrates supremely by laying down His life for His friends. This selfless love elevates the disciples from servants to friends, as Jesus declares, No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15). This friendship implies a deep intimacy and shared purpose, rooted in mutual love and understanding.
Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit
The preceding verses in John 15 emphasize the necessity of abiding in Christ, the true vine, to bear fruit. This passage reinforces that concept by linking love directly to fruitfulness. Jesus chose His disciples that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide (John 15:16). The fruit here is not just good works, but primarily the fruit of love, which manifests in obedience to His commandments. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love (John 15:10). Thus, love becomes both the means and the outcome of abiding in Christ.
Chosen for a Purpose
Furthermore, Jesus reminds His disciples, You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16). This highlights the divine initiative in their calling. They are chosen not for their own merit, but by God's grace, for a specific mission: to go and bear lasting fruit. This mission is empowered by prayer, as Jesus promises, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you (John 15:16). The ultimate purpose of this divine election and empowerment is reiterated in the final verse: These things I command you, so that you will love one another (John 15:17).
In summary, John 15:12-17 calls every Catholic to a radical love modeled on Christ's own sacrifice. This love is the hallmark of true discipleship, the evidence of abiding in Him, and the foundation for bearing abundant and lasting spiritual fruit. It is a love that transforms us from servants to friends, empowering us to fulfill our divine calling through prayer and obedience.