I give you a new commandment, that you love one another …
Rome, April 25, 1980 Commentary of the Word of Life: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (Jn 13:34). You may want to know when Jesus said these words. It was just before the beginning of his pas¬sion. He gave his farewell discourse as his final testament, and these words are part of that. Just think how important they are! If we never forget what a father says just before he dies, what about the words of a God? They must be taken seriously, and so together let’s try to deepen our understanding of them. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Jesus was about to die and what he said was affected by this. His imminent departure demanded an answer to one problem above all. How could he stay with his people and help the Church grow? You may