New Commandment 

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. (Jn 13:34)

If Jesus gives us the “new commandment”, then what is the old one? The “old commandment” is found in the Old Testament in the book of Deuteronomy. “Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” (Dt 6:5) This is a fundamental principle. The "old commandment" and the "new commandment" are not mutually exclusive but rather building on each other. The new commandment emphasizes the profound love demonstrated by Jesus, while the old commandment remains a foundational principle. We are called to love as Jesus has loved us. Unlike our worldly way of love, this love is radical and perfect. Jesus loves us totally to the end— “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. (Jn 13:1). And this love also demonstrates through actions. “No one has greater love than this,to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15:13) If we want to love like Jesus, we must be ready to “lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 Jn 3:16) So today let us ask the Lord to help us “love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. (1 Jn 3:16-18)

Dear Jesus, teach me how to love like you have loved me.

Hail Mary full of grace…

St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us.

Be one and be holy in Our Risen Lord,

Fr. Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX