Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Ps 145:8-13; Rev 21:1-5; John 13:31-35

What might the full life of Easter look like?

In today’s Gospel Jesus says: ’Love one another as I have loved you’. We have heard these words so many times – and their challenge remains. When we want to judge and hate on others, we have missed the point of our universal connection in Christ, in God, with every other thing in the universe. Instead we are judging and hating on part of ourselves. When we greet others with acceptance and compassion – we make their day, and our own.

That brings us to the second clause in that sentence: ‘as I have loved you’. Let’s say we’re getting it right, we’re loving, accepting and compassionate – but are we doing as Jesus did – who loved unto death? That’s a big ask. That really raises the bar. Thus the ongoing challenge of this passage.

The second reading reminds us of a central tenet of our faith: God dwells with us. Yet our hang-ups or feelings of lack of worthiness push God away – somewhere, anywhere else. I am sinful – so are we all – but God dwells with us. We do not earn this. It is grace. We know of and ‘believe’ in grace but are we willing to let go in our hearts and minds and accept our failings – and so accept God’s unearned favours to us?

As much as we can live this we will be closer to the full life – and our salvation.