There comes a time in each of our lives when if we have lived and loved well, we begin to think of the legacy we will leave for our children (or in a profession, for those who will come after us). What legacy do you want to leave?

Most parents want their children to find love among those with whom they live. They also want their children to get along with one another, to be supportive of one another, to be family to one another.

It must be painful when many parents live to see the opposite. They live to see distance and rivalry among their offspring. They live to see breakdown in communication and lack of support for one another.

Why can’t they get along? Mothers especially worry about this, still trying to bring everyone together. They worry that they did something wrong in bringing them up. What would they do differently if they were given a second chance? With the eyes of experience and new wisdom they accept the imperfection of their efforts and recognise their need for God.

Jesus in this Gospel story is a parent getting ready to leave, to say goodbye to His children. He has already lost Judas – He had expected this, but He has a plan for the others – “I give you a new commandment – love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another”.

Jesus had shown His disciples a perfect love, “no greater love can a man have, than to lay down His love for his friends, and you are my friends”. Jesus had left those who had known and loved him his entire life – father, mother, relatives and friends - to walk in their midst to show them another Way.

He had spent time before finding out about each one - He had specially chosen them. He knew them, their strengths as well as their weaknesses. He accepted each one for who they were and who they were capable of becoming. “You, Peter,” He could have said, “do not be so impetuous. Stop and think. Listen to me.”

He knew Peter would deny him but also that he would recognise his mistake and repent. He knew the strength of Peter’s character, the love of which Peter was capable and had specially chosen him to lead the others. He knew John was sensitive, loyal and faithful and gave him to his mother for both their benefits.

Love one another – just as I have loved you, accepting each one, sharing all that He had with each one, teaching - praising them when they did well, correcting and reprimanding them when they made mistakes, giving them opportunities to develop their gifts as He looked on at a distance, being an example of what He wanted from them, showing them the Way.

He expected nothing less from them – by the love they showed to one another, others will know that they are His disciples. He will live in them. He will be glorified in them as God is glorified in Him.

Let us pray
Almighty Father, we acknowledge the power of your love for us in sending your son as our example. He is the true parent, taking on the responsibility for each of those you entrusted to Him – not one to be lost, (except the one destined).

We recognise in your gift what you are teaching us – that the true leader, the true shepherd, the true parent, is the one who will lead, will teach with devotion, with the gift of a life fully dedicated to the task. In Jesus we learn that love is the most important gift we can give, the most important legacy we can bequeath to those we leave behind.

In Jesus, we learn that love is the source of the power that will lead us to the knowledge and the wisdom required for being a shepherd to others; that love will lead us to every sacrifice we will need to make to ensure the well-being of those whose lives we hold in our hands, to ensure that they learn the lessons we have been entrusted to teach. 

Father, we ask for your understanding and your forgiveness just as in Jesus, You understood and forgave Peter, also giving him the opportunity to forgive himself.

We ask especially for the opportunity to show that we too are Jesus’ disciples in the love we share with those you have given us, in the love we bequeath to those we leave behind, in the way we allow your name to be glorified. Amen. 

Gospel Meditations for May are by Maraika Gooding. Maraika and her husband Trevor are the parents of five children and grandparents of two. She is a guidance counsellor.