DIALOGUE

According to Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter, “Fratelli Tutti” on Fraternity and Social Friendship, it takes “approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word ‘dialogue.’” He continues, “I have only to think of what our would be like without the patient dialogue of the many generous people who keep families and communities together. Their persistent and courageous dialogue does not make headlines, but quietly helps the world to live much better than we imagine. Authentic social dialogue involves the ability to respect the other’s point of view and to admit it may include legitimate convictions and concerns.” This is a form fraternal of love in action.

Today’s Gospel begins and ends with the same dialogue: “love one another” (Jn 15:12, 17). As friends of Jesus, conformed to “the paschal mysteries”, we are to love each other as he has loved us. This fraternal love in action is most evident in the eucharistic action of washing his disciples’ feet (Jn 13). Jesus showed us just how we are to love each other.

In his book on the Eucharist, Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, has a chapter in which he describes Jesus’ washing of the apostles’ feet as the “ultimate invitation to mature discipleship.” In other words, only when we move from worship to service, particularly with the marginalized among us, will we love in the way Jesus loves. When we are able to lay pride and self-glorification aside, pick up the basin and towel, and wash away all the things that divide us one from the other.

Our status as Jesus’ friends does not mean we limit our service. With the psalmist we instead cry, “My heart is ready, O Lord, my heart is ready,” (Ps 57:8) even eager, to go and bear the fruit of the kingdom, just as Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas did when they were sent out by the Church in Jerusalem.

Jesus has shared his life, he has shared his Father’s life, with his disciples. He continues to share his life with us each time we come before this table, and thus they and we are called Jesus’ friends. This Easter commandment to imitate the risen Lord’s love must be a total self-giving. Recall the words of St. Oscar Romero, on the day he was assassinated, “If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people. ... I am obliged by divine law to give my life for those I love.”

We are obliged the same divine law to love in the extreme; to love until we are spent and have emptied ourselves of self for love. To use a sports analogy, to leave it all on the playing field. And it all starts with patient, persistent, courageous, and authentic dialogue with each other as friends.