Loving as Jesus Loves
- davidwperk
- Apr 29
- 8 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, April 29, 2025
The week of the second Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key verses for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
4 Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked. 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, "I am in the light," while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling.
You will find the full text of today’s 1 John reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary readings (BCP, 958)
AM Psalm 5, 6; PM Psalm 10, 11
Daniel 2:1-16; 1 John 2:1-11; John 17:12-19
Today we celebrate the Feast of Catherine of Siena. (See below.)
David's Reflections
"Whoever says . . . whoever denies . . . whoever confesses" Phrases like this recur in each chapter in First John. The author seems to be responding to a version of Christian belief that has gone astray. At the heart of that perspective lurked a skewed understanding of personal morality. For instance, consider the three "whoever says" statements in today's reading. "Whoever says 'I have come to know him,' but does not obey his commandments" (v. 4); "whoever says, 'I abide in him' ought to walk just as he walked" (v. 6); "whoever says, 'I am in the light,' while hating a brother or sister, is in the darkness.” (v. 9).
In verse one, the writer says, "I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.” In yesterday's reading the writer underlined that we all indeed do sin. Now, we are being urged to avoid sinning. The three statements above make more concrete what sin means to the writer of this letter--failure to keep the commandments, failure to walk as Jesus walked, and failure to love fellow believers.
The statement in verse six grabs my attention. "To walk as that one (Jesus) walked." Does the writer really believe that such is possible, for me--to order my life as Jesus ordered his? Just how is Jesus' life a binding demand on mine? How can I walk as he walked? This writer understands that if we do not take Jesus’ real humanity seriously, his life no longer places a demand on ours. Note that in 4:2-3, the writer warns us about this. “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in flesh is of God. But, every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God.” The affirmation of Jesus’ true humanity, “come in flesh,” is essential to a genuine faith. (See John 1:14.)
If Jesus was a real human being, a flesh and blood person, he and I share that in common. The quality of his life opens up a similar possibility for me. I cannot shrug off the demands of Christianity with the rationalization, "I am only human." Obviously, I cannot reduplicate his unique messianic ministry and sacrifice. So, how can I order my life as he did? In what sense is his life a model for mine?
According to verses 9-11, I can love as Jesus loved. His way of relating to others and to God exerts that demand on my life. If Jesus is pouring his love into my life and if I have a living relationship with God through faith in Christ, then loving others in that same self-giving way becomes a live possibility for me. Perhaps greater freedom to love lies before me than I've ever dreamt possible. We’re not speaking of love as sentiment or love as "liking" but love as a nontransactional doing, serving, giving, a love that persists no matter what the response of the other.
To hate others, to ignore their needs, to isolate myself, to live a life of self-maintenance--these are the behaviors of darkness, of the old order, of humankind apart from God. As verse 8 says, "The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." That true light is Jesus, illuminating my existence, filling me with divine life, and urging me into closer union with the God of love and with other people.
To have a relationship with Jesus makes a difference, a radical difference in my life. Living in the light will keep me conscious of those lurking corners of darkness that must be opened to God's energizing love and will open to me possibilities for loving and giving beyond what I have been able to imagine for myself.
Consider this lyric from the British folk rock band Mumford and Sons.
Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment to cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be.+
+Mumford & Sons, "Sigh No More," from album "Sigh No More." (2009)
Collect of the Day, Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP. 224)
Collect for the Weekdays of Easter
O God, by the waters of baptism you have renewed those who believe in you: Come to the help of those who have been reborn in Christ, that they may overcomes the wiles of the devil, and continue faithful to the gifts of grace they have received from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. (Collects of the Weekdays of Easter, P. 60).
Today we celebrate the Feast of Catherine of Siena, reformer and spiritual teacher (died 29 Apr 1380 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Catherine of Siena
Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your love in the heart of your servant Catherine of Siena: Grant unto us the same strength of conviction and power of love that, as we rejoice in her triumph, we may profit by her example; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of Anselm
My God,
I pray that I may so know you and love you
that I may rejoice in you.
And if I may not do so fully in this life
let me go steadily on
to the day when I come to that fullness ...
Let me receive
That which you promised through your truth,
that my joy may be full Amen.
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)
For the Departed
Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant N.; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, you will receive him more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 253)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Epistle, 1 John 2:1-11
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked. 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, "I am in the light," while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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