May 6, 2007 Loving one another

John 13:31-35

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Jesus tells us to love one another- this is a very large and difficult command. We must practice, we must work at it, even after we fail. As an excercise in this new way to interact with others, we can get to know those 'others.' As we get to know different people, we just might be more able to love those we do not know. On the other side of the same coin, we must learn to love ourselves as well. For how can we love anyone else if we don't love ourselves. Many times, I find this one to be harder than loving others. But I must get to know myself, must learn to love myself, so that I am able to love others. The art for this week includes the record of the handprints of everyone in the church. These will be collected and made into a quilt which will be added to as we grow.