THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN
Acts 14:21-27; Revelation 21:1-5a; John 13:31-33a, 34-35
The renowned artist Paul Gustave Dore once lost his passport while travelling. When he came to a border crossing, he hoped the guard would recognize him and allow him to pass. The guard, however, said that many made false claims. Dore insisted that he was the man he claimed to be. The official said: “We’ll give you a test, and if you pass it, we’ll allow you to go through.” Handing him a pencil and a sheet of paper, he told the artist to sketch several peasants standing nearby. Dore did it so quickly and skilfully that the guard was convinced he was indeed the artist he claimed to be. Dore’s action confirmed his identity.
What is the identification mark of a Christian?
For Jesus the identification mark of Christians is not the way we dress, not uniforms and habits, but the way we live: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples…” (John 13:34-5). Love is the Christian identification mark.
Two things to note:
First, Jesus’ command is not that we like one another. To like or not to like is rooted in our emotions; emotions do not respond to commands. The love of which Jesus speaks is a way of acting towards another that wills his/her good. Love is a decision and an action.
Second, Jesus gives us a standard to measure this love: “as I have loved you.” That is a lofty standard indeed!
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts how Paul and Barnabas lived this command: they travelled extensively to strengthen the spirit of the disciples. The result: they made a considerable number of disciples.
It is up to us now to love like Jesus and to encourage one another as Paul and Barnabas did. May we live in such a way that through us people begin to have a glimpse of the unbounded and unconditional love that God has shown us in Christ.
Do I bear the Christian identification mark? What am I going to do to love those around me—in my family, in my community—as Jesus loved me?
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