Scripture: John 13:34–35 (NRSV)
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
Reflection:
Love, as Jesus describes it, is not instinctive or effortless. It is learned. And it is learned not in isolation, but through relationship, by staying present with each other over time. When Jesus speaks these words to the disciples, he is not offering a vague ideal. He is pointing to the way he has lived among them: walking together, eating together, disagreeing, forgiving, and starting again. Love has been growing in them through being close.
We often think of love as something we either feel or don’t feel. But Jesus presents love as a practice built through shared life. “Just as I have loved you” isn’t meant to overwhelm us; it’s an invitation to remember what love really looks like when it shows up. Love listens before reacting. Love stays when it would be easier to withdraw. Love develops slowly, shaped by patience, repair, and grace.
Faith emerges when we resist the temptation to withdraw, when we commit to relationships that call for humility and care. Love isn’t about getting it right every time but about choosing to be present repeatedly. Over time, love shifts from effort to who we are becoming together.
Practice:
Today, focus on being present. In any interaction, whether at home, work, or in your community, resist the urge to rush, withdraw, or multitask. Give your full attention. Let being present be an act of love.
Journaling Prompt:
Where in my life is love asking me to stay present instead of pulling away?
Prayer:
Jesus, teacher of love, you shaped your disciples not just through words but through shared life and faithful presence. Teach us to love in the same way — not through perfection, but by staying. Give us patience when relationships feel slow or difficult, and grace when love demands more than comfort can provide. Cultivate in us a love that grows through presence and trust. Amen.