Family Reflections on the Love of Jesus.

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” John 15:12.

Holy Week reflections take up the focus on the love of Jesus from Dilexiit Nos. This encyclical from Pope Francis issued in October 2024 is also relevant in the context of the Jubilee Year of Hope.  Central to these reflections is the statement ‘LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU and the love of Jesus, human and divine, his person, his vision and his qualities which are expressed in a variety of ways included the Sacred Heart.   The format used is a description of an imaginary activity of groups of families participating in a mini-retreat.   Scripture references, Church teaching and quotations from Pope Francis are added. 

Introduction.   The words, “love one another as I have loved you” are part of Jesus’ discourse at the last supper, a very significant moment in his life and a very important statement containing three elements.  We can see it as an invitation to love others, but also to reflect on Jesus and his way of loving, as well as his love for each of us individually.  So we can ask what are some of the qualities of the love of Jesus, what can we learn from him for our relationships and how can we come closer to understanding, appreciating and loving him in return?  The document Dilexit Nos issued shortly before the start of the Jubilee year is one of the valuable resource documents for living as Pilgrims of Hope and creating Signs of Hope, which are purposes of the year. 

These reflections for Holy Week inked with the events as described mainly in Luke’s gospel can be used in many different ways, as an individual, a group or a family with or without children in appropriate ways.  It can be seen as a Holy Week pilgrimage, a way to deepen our love for and understanding of Jesus, the God-man who loved us. showed his love till the end of his human life, but still continues to love us each in a special way.  To put it simply, “Getting to know him is to love him, and getting to love him is to desire to know him better.”

Pope Francis:  For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1). SNC 1  “HE LOVED US”, Saint Paul says of Christ with certainty because Jesus himself had told his disciples, “I have loved you” (Jn 15:9, 12), “I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). His open heart has gone before us and waits for us, unconditionally, asking only to offer us his love and friendship. For “he loved us first” (Because of Jesus, “we have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16).  DN1

April 13.   PALM SUNDAY. A story. Instead of just gathering to make palm crosses the group of families in preparation for Holy Week had chosen the day before Palm Sunday to start a mini-retreat that would continue briefly each day. There was time alone, time together as couples, for various family groups to share and a programme for younger children too.  They had spent time in the morning meditating on the statement of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you” and when they met the director asked them to list some qualities of love that they had experienced and discovered.   What was the message for themselves?  It wasn’t really unexpected that the list looked rather like the message Paul gave to the Corinthians.  “Love is patient, kind,  never jealous, boastful or conceited,  never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, is not resentful, takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, is truthful, always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. Love last forever. “ True love is unconditional.” “I need to work on my jealousy,” “trust, ”pride,” were some comments.  Even some young ones realised that showing off to their friends, and being impatient with younger siblings were not being loving.   The director then told them “our task for this week will be to take time to think about Jesus and how you can identify these qualities in his personality and his life.” 

Scripture:  Read Luke 19: 28-40, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 

Reflection, discussion and sharing. The families’ retreat director posed some questions to be considered by families.   “Did Jesus take charge of the situation and does he come across as someone with authority?  How does he show his love in this situation?”   He also gave them some thoughts for reflection about their own lives.  “At baptism we are baptised into the kingly mission of Jesus.  Discuss what a loving king would do for his people; would he protect, defend, rule with fairness and justice? The 4th commandment “Honour your father and your mother” speaks of respect for parents and by extension also for all those in authority.  What should be done if these people abuse their authority?  How should we love those in authority over us? 

CHURCH TEACHING.  By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will, so that these may grow according to Christ and be to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer.  LG31. VATICAN II.