This Gospel reading must be one of my favorites. Not just because the message is impactful and clear, but because there are several beautiful hymns that reference this scripture. I myself have sung one such hymn at several weddings, which brings me back to when I was learning about what love meant in marriage preparation. God calls us in this scripture to love one another as He loves us… so what does it mean to love like Christ? I remember reflecting on how there are different kinds of love. Not just the romantic love we feel for a spouse, but the platonic love we feel for friends and family or the general love/respect we have for our world and those who inhabit it. Beyond those kinds of love, however, is Christ-like love. It is a love with no conditions, and no bounds. There is nothing we could do that would stop Christ from loving us and rejoicing when we come home to Him. It is limitless- He loves every person the same, vast amount. Kind of hard to fathom… and yet, that is not even the most intense part. He loved the Church (us) so much that He chose to die painfully on a cross for our salvation. He obeyed his father in heaven when he was asked to die, and we are similarly called to obey the Lord’s commands in scripture today: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” We are asked to lead Christian lives. Everyone knows to follow the ten commandments, sure, but beyond that, we should try to be Christ’s love in the world.

What does it look like to love in such a way?  In marriage, we are called to emulate Christ-like love towards each other. A lofty goal, and one I am sure no one completely achieves. But if I tried to love my husband today as Christ would love him, what might look different? Would I have more grace? Would I be more willing to serve? We are called to love our spouse like Christ loved the church, and Christ loved the church so much he died for it! Beyond spousal love, we are also tasked with loving our neighbor. The neighbor you get along with, but perhaps most especially, the neighbor you don’t.

Today my prayer begins with all married people, that we may constantly strive to serve our spouses in love, to obey Christ’s commands, and to continually work to be closer to each other and God. But for all people, as we are called to love our most challenging neighbors, please fill us with your Christ-like love that knows no bounds, so that we may be your light to those that need it most.