Staff commenced the new school year with prayer and reflection focused on a Gospel reading from John (13: 34-35)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.        

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus demonstrated his love not only by good deeds, but by feeding people spiritually and laying down his life for others, even for those who had not yet embraced his teachings.

It is easy to love those who love you. It is easy to love your family and friends. It is easy to show goodness to those who are good to you. However, God wants more from us. He wants us to decide to love others, especially those who are unlovable. He wants us to be good to those people who may annoy us. He wants us to treat others with respect and compassion. He wants us to love like Jesus did.

Why is it important to love one another? If we truly love one another, then we will give the very best of ourselves just as Jesus did for us. Second, our love for other Christians will be evident to the world. They will see how we treat each other and they should know that we follow Jesus because of it. May we follow Jesus’ call to love others, the way he loves us.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church even says, “The entire Law of the Gospel is contained in the new commandment of Jesus, to love one another as he has loved us” (CCC 1970).

Loving God,

As we begin another academic year, we ask your Holy Spirit to be with us, that we may always use the gifts you have given us to the best of our ability. We pray for all the students we will be privileged to teach in our classes.  We ask that you guide us to show them God’s love through our conversations and actions. May we follow Jesus example as we live out the Gospel - This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

We make our prayer through Christ, Our Lord.

All:  Amen.