—Fr. Timothy W. Castor

The Easter season which we are now celebrating is soon coming to an end. In fact there are only two more weeks until Pentecost. But that doesn’t mean our Easter joy has to come to an end. Jesus says in today’s Gospel, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete." It’s interesting, however, that Jesus should say these words, because when he told this to his disciples it was just before his crucifixion. What kind of joy could he have possibly known at this moment of crisis in his life? Yet our blessed Lord cannot lie, so we would do well to ask: what is this complete joy—this perfect joy—which Christ wants to share with us?

But first, ask yourself this question: "what would make my joy complete? What would I need to be perfectly happy?" Many of us try to find happiness in terms of material possessions. If only I had a great car or a home theater or a cabin by the lake, then I would be happy. And there’s no doubt that these things can bring a certain kind of happiness, at least for a while. But is this the happiness that Jesus wants to give us? By all indications it would seem that the only things he owned were the clothes on his back. When he rode into Jerusalem, he had to borrow the donkey; when he ate the Last Supper with his disciples, he had to borrow the room. It doesn’t seem as if possessions were the source of our Savior’s joy. Some of us try to find happiness in a less tangible way: if only I had a job that I loved or a fulfilling relationship or a family that really loved me, then I could be happy. And here, perhaps, we’re hitting a little closer to the true nature of our Lord’s joy. I think it’s safe to say that he took great pleasure in his mission on earth; and there’s no doubt that his family relationships—both earthly and heavenly—were pretty special. But when we think of joy in these terms—the happiness of a satisfying job or a warm friendship—it’s still happiness that’s based on what I can get out of it—a happiness that derives from my own pleasure. This is not the joy of Jesus Christ; this is not the joy he wishes to share with us.

Remember where he was when he offered his joy to his disciples: it was at the Last Supper, just moments away from his betrayal and his death. Is it possible that this is the source of his joy? The answer is, yes. Jesus knew complete joy at that moment because he was about to give himself completely for his friends. It was an act of supreme sacrificial love, and as such it was the source of perfect joy.

When our blessed Lord says, "remain in my love," this is the love he is talking about: a self-sacrificing love—a love which seeks not one’s own happiness, but the happiness of the beloved. "No one has greater love than this," Jesus tells his disciples, "to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." We are his friends, and if we are his friends then we will follow his example.

In the Old Testament, the relationship between God his people was based upon law. It was the relationship between a master and his slaves. But now, our relationship with God is based upon love. It is a friendship, and—in addition to love—friendships are founded on trust. Do we trust God enough to believe him when he says that true happiness can be achieved only through self-sacrifice? Do we love God enough to obey him?

"If you keep my commandments," Jesus says, "you will remain in my love." And elsewhere he says,"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." You see, commandments are not absent from this new relationship of friends. But instead of obeying the commandments out of servile fear, now we are called to obey out of love. Loving obedience is the hallmark of the true Christian because it was the example set by Christ himself. And what is the commandment that he asks us to obey? It is a beautiful commandment, one that draws us into his own divine life: "this is my commandment: love one another as I love you." Love one another as I love you.

Saint John recorded these words of Jesus as he heard them at the Last Supper. And they became the basis of his own preaching and the foundation of his Gospel message. In today’s second reading, which was taken from St. John’s first letter, he echoes this new commandment: "beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God."

"Love one another" must be the basis and foundation of our lives. We love one another when we live for one another—seeking the good of our brothers and sisters before our own satisfaction. We love one another when we pour out our lives, giving generously of our time, talent and treasure, in order to serve those in need. We love one another when we lay down our lives for our friends, just as Jesus did. Does this mean that the Lord will call us to die for our brothers and sisters? Perhaps not. But all of us are called to die to ourselves—to put to death our selfish desires so that we might give ourselves to God and to others.

In this is real joy—real happiness. The world entices us with all kinds of false happiness. But Jesus wants to make our joy complete with the love that only he can give. May our hearts be transformed by his love, and our souls filled with his perfect joy.