Gospel Lesson for the Week
May 2, 2010
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FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
The Shape Of Love
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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one
another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another."
--- John 13:34
The Shape Of Love
There is a song we sing
“They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
It comes from this verse.
More than that,
it comes from all the Gospel story.
Each page, each chapter tells the tale.
Each verse reiterates the truth:
Not by our creeds, our orthodoxy,
unless that creed
is rooted in love;
not by our liturgical correctness,
unless our liturgy
sings love lovingly;
not by our praise-band enthusiasm
unless our
enthusiasm is in praise of Love;
not by our passion for social justice,
unless that passion
is fueled by love.
And what is the shape of the love
that is our identity tag
as disciples of Jesus Christ?
He said it must replicate his love
for us.
“Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another”
He calls us to be Christ-clones.
The measuring stick of our discipleship
is the extent of our love for one another.
And the shape of that love is a cross.
--- rvc
(An encore meditation originally published May 6, 2007)
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will. The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author. Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority. The Verse Of The Day and BibleGateway Search engine are the property on BibleGateway.com and are used here with their specific permission.
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