To love as Jesus loves
St. Matthias John 15:9-17 We come to know the apostle who replaced Judas. Though apostles are irreplaceable, there might be a reason for filling up the 12. What we're more interested in is how this apostle was chosen. The reading pointed two requirements: first, "that he was with us" and second, "that he also witnessed the resurrection of the Lord". Today's gospel gives more insights on the qualities of an apostle: First, "loved by Jesus" - an concrete experience of Jesus' love as the Father loves Jesus. Second, "loves Jesus" - our capacity to respond to Jesus' love by becoming his friend Third, "loves as Jesus loves" - our capacity to love others as Jesus loves us even if it means laying down one's life for one's friends.