In the Gospel of John Jesus told His disciples, and told us, to “Love one another” 

(Jn 13:34). 

 

The Lord spoke those words on Holy Thursday night before leaving the supper room to walk to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, as we know, Jesus would show the world for all time the meaning of loving others.

 

With this in mind we take to heart Jesus’ next words that completed His instruction to those who believe in Him. 

 

He said, “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 34-35).

 

These words of Jesus are purifying and liberating. In modern society, love is often reduced to a feeling, an emotion that we seek but do not control. 

 

Consequently, what we are told is love comes and goes. And we feel the underlying heartache and mistrust generated by love that is not real, not enduring.

 

In contrast, the love that Jesus calls us to is deep and eternal. We are to share His love by first receiving it for ourselves, then extending it to others. 

 

Instead of diminishing our nature, this love makes us more like Christ. Step by step, it makes us to be what God intended for us.

 

As a matter of faith, we should seek out opportunities to love others in imitation of how Christ loves us. That is His direct command. And our response can take many forms.

 

It should begin in our families and with those closest to us in this life. We should offer others a share in our faith as well as lived acts of kindness, patience, forgiveness and sacrifice.

 

We need then to be seeking further opportunities to love others in the world. Jesus has given us the particular example of loving the poor, the needy and the stranger. 

 

We can bring our faith to those who do not know Jesus or those who, for some reason, have lost faith.  Our presence with the lonely, the aged or the imprisoned is what Jesus tells us constitutes the lived faith He seeks in us.

 

This week we will introduce once more the means by which the Diocese of Rockford invites us to share our faith and Christ’s love with others. We will begin the 2018 Diocesan Appeal.

 

Its theme is the command of Jesus — Love One Another. 

 

I take this opportunity to invite you to join me in my ministry as Bishop of the Diocese of Rockford and our collective efforts to offer that love.

 

Your generous contribution shares our faith by supporting the work of our education department which ensures the excellence of our Catholic schools and our religious education programs. 

 

Through those gifts teachers are trained, administrators supported, and most importantly, our young people are taught their Catholic faith.

 

The Diocesan Appeal funds our efforts to foster and support the family and especially the heart of the family — marriage. 

 

Through marriage preparation and programs to honor and assist married couples, we work to strengthen this foundational relationship of faith and life.

 

Your contributions show your love for the poor by assisting Catholic Charities in a wide array of works. You also support our seminarians and our efforts to promote vocational awareness and discernment leading to the next generation of priests.

 

In short, the Diocesan Appeal is a concrete and assured means of living our Catholic faith. It is a way to spread our love for others.

 

I am always deeply grateful for the generosity of the faithful of the Diocese of Rockford. I ask, if you can, to be generous again this year. If you haven’t given before, can you begin this year? If you have been a regular contributor, could you be even more generous this time?

 

Whatever you can prayerfully contribute is a great blessing, and I am personally grateful. Please be assured of my prayers for you, especially as we seek to Love One Another.