John is the more symbolic writer.  This was a thought I had while sitting with this Gospel.  But as the days passed, during my reflection I realized that, for me, there is nothing symbolic about what Jesus is saying here.  Jesus is saying exactly what he means, love one another as I have loved you.  And then he stretched out his hands and died so that we might have life.  Okay, nothing new here.  I can do that.  What new can be said?

Then the day comes when someone I have a deep respect and love for, says things to me that cut to the core.  I am deeply wounded.  Hurting…., wanting to get angry, but unable to.  What on earth is happening?  I am bleeding inside.  It hurts too much to love while feeling judged and feeling thought as less by this person.  Love one another as I have loved you?  Is this possible for me?

In time, sitting with this Scripture and praying, the pain lessens enough that I am open to hearing it anew.  It’s hard, so very hard, to love someone who has hurt me so much.  This person may not have even given the encounter a second thought.  God’s love and grace have brought me to a much deeper understanding of this Gospel by walking me through this experience.  God helped me to sort out the words and focus on action.  What was really hurting?  Was it pride?   Yes, it was my pride that was holding me back.  Is it not always our pride that is in the way?  If I took a step toward the cross and put my pride out of the way, would I see things differently?

I sat with that in prayer for several days.  Yes, I can have a Christlike love for this person.  Yes, I do have a Christlike love for this person, even if they don’t love me back!  And I feel free because of it!  I have both feet on the ground and I am facing that facts of what happened. They do not matter where my love is concerned.  I can love despite what happened!  Alleluia!

You know what else?  I can even freely share it with you now instead of years later.  I’m laughing because of the joy.  Alleluia!  God is so good.  God let me walk though this Scripture for days and then allowed me to experience something that had the potential for me to cut-off someone for a very long time.  Then God had me continue to reflect on this Gospel until it came to fullness.  Until I had something to say about it that was different.  It was my own story. 

I know there will be many times this will be a challenge for me.  Remembering this Alleluia moment will help me in the next challenging moment. 

What relationship challenges are we facing that need a walk though this Scripture?  Who causes hurt and pain that we still need to love as Christ loves?  The people we live with or our closest friends would be a good place to start.  We can’t love Syrian officials if we cannot love those close to us first.  Yes, even Syrian officials.  That is what Jesus Christ taught.  Alleluia! Praising God’s Goodness!