They Will Know You Are My Disciples If You Love One Another

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

May 20, 2025

in Spritual Growth

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May 18, 2025:
Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Acts 13:44-52
John 13:31-35
5th Sunday of Easter 2025 Homily – Abp. Hines

Too often we doubt our own capabilities and not realize all that God has done for us. In today’s reading, it says that when the Son of man is glorified, God is glorified in Him. Judas had gone to bring the men to arrest Jesus. And rather to have fear or hatred, Jesus sees His ministry coming into fulfillment. He knew that He would be glorified. And when He receives glory, God is also glorified for they are one. This message is also referred to us, that when we please Him, He is also glorified since we are His ambassadors who bring the goid news. It’s not just for us to be blessed but to be a blessing to others. Jesus learned how to communicate with God and receive instructions from Him. If only we would be able to do the same thing Jesus did. Christ received His commission from God and fulfilled it. God from the very beginning has blessed and empowered us to multiply and increase His Kingdom. Jesus understood His authority. If only we would understand this same authority given to us by God.

We should never say, “I cannot,” because if we do we are actually listening to the devil instead of listening to God. God knows what He has done for us and has given us so much. Jesus told His disciples that where He is going, they cannot go, but that He’s giving a new commandment for them which is to “love one another.” Why would Jesus say this when it is already in the Old Testament? Because at that time, the Holy Spirit had not been given yet. Therefore the new commandment now to love is deeper, more powerful, and more meaningful. It is not just a written commandment but it should now be entrenched in our hearts. God is love, and if we have been created in His image and likeness, we should be, love.

The new pattern is, “love as I have loved you.” As He is, so are we in this world. It is a new commandment because the enemy has lost its power. Having now been restored, we should have a whole new concept of the love that should be in us. He further says, “if you don’t love your brother, then you are not with me.” In other words, if we hate our neighbors, we are not Christians. When we love one another just as Christ has loved us, then there would be unity. Satan is the first politician because he causes division. He was able to deceive Adam and Eve and caused the division. The same thing is happening today. Politicians are destroying each other and causing strife and division. We may not be in the same wavelength, we may have our differences in opinions, but do we need to destroy each other? Love and courtesy for each other is mandatory. We should still respect each other even if we do not agree with them.

“Love your enemies,” Christ had proclaimed. Even when He went to the cross, He forgave all. It’s sad that when we see Christians today, we see many condemning Muslims, Hindus or any who does not have the same beliefs as ours. But didn’t Christ die for all mankind? We even hear people within the church attacking each other. We need to have respect for one another. 1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart.” Christ came to demonstrate the truth, however, we are still practicing more of the deception. Christ was willing to go as far as dying on our behalf to prove rhis truth. We need to be a witness to the world by having love. What a challenge this is for us. But if we love, this is our best witness. While we may be different and have differences in opinion, the respect and love should still be there. Romans 15:1 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves.”

Scriptures tell us we should not retaliate and not get even. We are to be tolerant of each other. In situations where there are tensions, we should respond in love. Why is there a prevalence of people with high blood pressure, hypertension, heart attacks? It’s because we do not live the life that God wants us to live. If Christ is with us, we should have peace. If we follow our own feelings and emotions, it’s so easy for friction to happen. The most important thing is that Christ has given us peace. We need to realize this, and believe that Christ has given us these things. The love that God has given us is not just feelings. It should be translated to how we live our lives. Luke 6: 27-29 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.”