He Loved

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. ~John 13:1

These words begin John's telling of the Last Supper. In full knowledge of his impending death, Jesus loved. He loved his own. 

Jesus' disciples were a band of average people with faults and doubts, needs and egos. The Gospel stories tell of their fears, misunderstandings, mistakes, and in the end, betrayals and denial. Yet still, he loved them to the end. 

This speaks to me in two ways. 

How do we love our own? Do we focus on the things that bother us? Do we allow judgment and expectation to cloud our interactions? 

We don't know when our hour will come. If the past year has taught us anything, it's that life is precious and fleeting. Perhaps these words serve as a gentle reminder to view our own in this world through the lens of love. 

I'd also like to think that we are part of this intention. Jesus loves us, his own, to the end. Not in spite of our faults, but because of them. We, like the disciples, are flawed. At times we struggle, we fail, we deny, we betray, but we keep trying. With faith, in hope, we start over each day with new opportunities to be our best in this world.

So on this Holy Thursday, take a moment to center yourself in love.

Love your own and know you are loved...to the end.