24 April 2016

Why a new commandment?

The Lord Jesus today says to us, "I give you a new commandment" (John 13:34)? It is curious that he calls it "new" and does not simply give the command. Why does he call it "new"?

In his Commentary on the Gospel of John, Saint Bonaventure provides an explanation that is both beautiful and profound in its simplicity:
So it is "new," because it must always be fresh in one's heart and because love must always be owed and never grow old (13.47).
We know that the Lord Jesus "makes all things new" (Revelation 21:5). As we receive the Eucharistic Lord today, let us, then, implore him to make our love new, to make it fresh and as strong as a first love, so that all that might know that we are his disciples (cf. John 13:35).

No comments:

Post a Comment