Since we are in graduation season, I was recently reminded of a graduation that I had from college seminary six years ago. This, while it has a lot of the same appearances as a normal graduation, there was a special moment at the very end: when we were able to wear a clerical collar for the first time, since we were now in theological school. It is a unique moment for us, because we are able to take up the same clothing that a priest would wear. Now, to be sure, this does not mean that we are ready to be ordained, nor do we have the same abilities and skills as a priest, but we were at a point in our life where we were growing into them! It was exciting to be able to wear them for the first time, but we knew that this was only a part of continuing to learn how to be a priest. There is far more than the outward appearance of the collar!
I often reflect back on those days, though, because often, even today, there is still a difference. When I put on my collar in the morning, it is a reminder of a duty, and of a vocation that is beckoning to be lived out. That was the very first lesson I learned as a seminarian: there is more to a priest than outward appearances! It’s much more about the internal virtue, personality, characteristics, and knowledge! It cannot be one without the other.
While not too many of us have an outer show of what our interior life is- don’t we have some particular calling or some distinguishing mark as Christians? Isn’t there something that, like my days in the seminary, that tells everyone that something is different here? Yes- there is. It is a little thing called love. Don’t be fooled, though. When I speak of love, I’m not talking about something cheap or disposable. I’m not speaking about something fleeting or that can be like some sort of feeling that is just there for a moment and then passes through. Rather, I am speaking about something that goes far deeper. It challenges us to live our lives in a different way. It challenges us to be a people of joy. It challenges us to deepen our faith on a regular basis! This is something that is more than a four letter word, but is truly a way of life.
First, I want to start off with the Gospel, because it serves as the foundation for everything else here. Now, remember, we are in the Easter season, and this excerpt from the Gospel of John is actually from a time that comes before the Resurrection chronologically. We can deduce this with the appearance of Judas, who is in the middle of actively betraying Jesus. It is thus all the more stunning that Jesus is now speaking on that topic of love!
What does He say about this thing called love, though? What are we to do with it? According to Jesus, He says this: “Love one another as I have loved you.” On the surface, that could make an excellent Hallmark card, but what else is there to this underneath the surface? What is Jesus actually saying? He is speaking to His disciples at that time, and they may not realize it, but He is calling them to quite a lofty task and ideal! In fact, if we tie this to Jesus and His example, it becomes something that may seem impossible!
First, we need to understand what Jesus’s love looks like. We simply have to glance at one thing to realize the full girth of this calling: the Cross. If you glance at that, you see how much Jesus truly loves all of us. He wanted to come to us and willingly embraced the Cross out of love for us! He loves us enough to be Crucified- even in spite of the fact that, often, the return on such an investment will seem shallow! It would be one thing if we actually recognized that Crucifixion in our day-to-day lives often- and that kept us from sin and from evil! The reality is that we often we fall short, and we fail! We may not quite have it all figured out- and yet that didn’t stop Jesus from loving us- and showing that care and concern for us. Yet, it is an important reality- we must understand that Jesus truly loves us- and He willingly calls us His own- even in the midst of our failures. Yet, realize what that does for us! If we recall back to the Acts of the Apostles, it speaks about how often the followers of Christ will have to put up with hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. They are willing to undergo trials and tribulations- suffering and affliction- perhaps even mistreatment and injustice- because they know that the love of Christ yields a reward!
When Jesus speaks to His disciples, He is calling them to an example that He has given them: He has enough love that He is willing to lay down His very life for each of us! So, He is telling His disciples that this love is going to define who they are! It isn’t just enough to say that word: that they love others. It is calling them to have such a radical love that it evolves into a willingness to pour out their lives.
Many of us may find the courage to do that for someone that we care for or admire… but what about someone who really causes us difficulty? What about that person who causes you to suffer? Perhaps it is a co-worker, maybe a client, perhaps even a family member. Just that one person that you really don’t want to spend time with- would you be willing to lay down your life for them? That may seem like it is really stretching it- perhaps at least for me!
The thing with this is that we may find it so easy to try to write off this radical love of our neighbor as something relevant to the disciples or the Apostles. Something a long time ago. Something that was present then, and not so much now. Maybe it’s just for those who are in the clergy! It all sounds to idealistic, and perhaps unrealistic as a result. Yet, we are called to do something so much more than just what this world may yield! We often hear about the “Golden Rule” which encourages us to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Yet, if we realize what Jesus is saying- that isn’t going to be enough! If we hear what the Gospel encourages us to do, it is to follow Jesus!
In fact, the metrics that the world may provide as to what makes us good aren’t enough. We can’t just take up the identity that the world offers us- but we have to be different. Much like the way that my brother seminarians and I had collars that looked a lot like we were already ordained- it only means so much on the outside. That identity has to go deeper- and be a greater part of who we are! It has to influence how we rise in the morning- how we conduct ourselves- how we spend our time- and how we treat others- especially those who might treat us very unfairly or very poorly, perhaps out of their own brokenness or affliction. We are called to love even them! This is truly the mark of a Christian!
When we hear from the book of Revelation- it reminds us that the one who sits upon the throne- Jesus Christ Himself- says to all of us: “Behold, I make all things new!” Jesus Christ Himself is calling us to live a life that is far above the love or the feelings that the world might tell us are acceptable. It isn’t enough to show favor or love to those who have something to offer. It takes far, far more to be a Christian.
So, brothers and sisters, I want to ask a question: who is the person you struggle to love the most? Is it someone close, or someone kept at a distance? Whenever you find this person- do you have the heart to love even them? Are you willing to wish them well, even in spite of differences or even wrongdoings that they may hurl your way? When we are able to do that, we know that we are truly aspiring to what Jesus does for us. That does not mean that we are perfect yet! Often, that death that Jesus died is simply us dying to ourselves and discovering that someone needs our love and support in a particular way!
We know the mark of what it is to be a Christian. It’s more than clothing, or even a collar. It is a radical, and selfless love that seems almost like it is too much- and yet, it makes us so much more like Jesus. Let’s not let love be shallow, but truly life-giving and totally surrendering like the love that Jesus Christ Himself gives to each of us! Truly, “As I have loved you, so you should also love one another.”
