Jesus asks, “What could one give in exchange for his life?” (Mk 8:37). Indeed, life is the greatest gift God gives to a human being. Life is everything. And so, Jesus declares in today’s Gospel reading, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v 13). And he himself sets an example; he gives his life voluntarily. Speaking of his impending passion and death, he declares, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down on my own” (Jn 10:18). It is out of pure love that God sent his Son into the world to save the world, not because of any merit on the part of human beings. St. Paul marvels at this unmerited grace: “Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8).

Only love can make a person make sacrifices or offer his life for the loved one. Such is often the case of parents. The musical Miss Saigon features a Vietnamese mother leaving her child at a departure gate of an airport to board an airplane headed for the United States where the child’s father, an ex-GI, would be in a position to provide a much better life for the child. Claude Michael Schönberg, the author, considers this mother’s actions for her child to be “the ultimate sacrifice.” Kim, the mother, would bear anything, even being separated from her son: “As long as you have your chance, I swear I’ll give my life for you.”

The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: “The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, 29namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”

And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.

“I w ill give you t hanks among t he peoples, O Lord.” or “Alleluia.”

Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”