SUNDAY REFLECTIONS | Fifth Sunday of Easter

By Social Communications

Published on May 18, 2025

John 13:31–33a, 34–35 — “Love one another as I have loved you”

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, the Church invites us to listen closely to the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. The Gospel for this Fifth Sunday of Easter is short, but deeply meaningful. It comes at the very moment when Judas leaves the room to betray Jesus. In that heavy silence, Jesus turns to the remaining disciples and begins to speak with a new depth of tenderness.

He begins by saying, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” In this moment, Jesus sees His coming Passion and death not as defeat, but as glory. He knows that by offering His life freely in love, He is fulfilling the Father’s will and revealing God’s glory to the world. The cross, which seems like humiliation to the world, becomes the throne of Christ’s love. Glory, in God’s eyes, is not about power or success, but about love poured out completely.

Jesus then tells His disciples that He will be with them only a little while longer. He is preparing them for His departure, but He does not leave them without guidance. Instead, He gives them a new commandment—one that sums up His whole life and mission: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

This is not just any love. It is not merely kindness or good manners. Jesus is calling us to love in the same way He has loved us—sacrificially, humbly, and without limits. He loved His disciples by washing their feet. He loved them by being patient with their weaknesses. And He loved them by going to the cross for them, laying down His life even for those who abandoned Him.

To love like this is not easy. But it is the clearest sign that we belong to Jesus. He says, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The world does not recognize Christians simply by their words, prayers, or traditions. These are important, but the truest witness is love—especially love that is patient, forgiving, and enduring in times of trial.

This kind of love begins in the Church, in our families, and in our everyday relationships. It means loving not only when it is easy, but especially when it is hard—when people disappoint us, or when we are called to forgive, serve, or give up something for the sake of another. It also means loving not just those who agree with us or think like us, but every person, because each one is made in the image of God.

This Gospel invites us to reflect: How do we love others? Do we love only those who love us, or do we try to love as Jesus loves—freely, generously, and without conditions? Do our words and actions show that we are disciples of Christ?

As we walk through this Easter season, the risen Christ calls us to live in a new way. He calls us to glorify God not through power or pride, but through love. This love is not something we produce on our own. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit. If we ask Him, God will give us the grace to love as Jesus loves.

Let us pray, then, for hearts that are open to this new commandment. Let us love one another—not only with words, but in action, in truth, and with joy. In doing so, we not only obey Jesus—we make Him visible in the world today.