The term ‘unconditional love’ is time-tired and work-worn. We use it to justify ourselves and our prejudices; we tell ourselves that we can love the people we judge by an act of will. Whatever happened to the 11th Commandment … The New Commandment?

Jesus gives his disciples a New Commandment, and it is important to note that it is the only Commandment that Jesus gave to the disciples: “A new Commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Furthermore, Jesus models his love, so that we may model this love for others. This imperative demand for action is the most difficult part of the Gospel.  Evidence of the difficulty is the absence of the outside world acclaiming: “See how these Christians love one another.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury: The Right Honourable and Most Reverend Rowan Williams, believes just such a difficult Gospel and implies that until and unless we come to believe that God ‘gazes upon us all with an unfettered acceptance’, we cannot begin to see others as God sees them. Because we limit the ‘capaciousness’ of God, we of necessity restrict our own capacity to love.

The Adult Formation groups at St. John, Oromocto, have finished a study of Mike Higton’s book: Difficult Gospel, the Theology of Rowan Williams. We have been challenged by the Animator of the study, Canon Jim Irvine to follow the Archbishop’s lead and see everyone and everything everyday through the lens of the Cross. The challenge is to act and live in a way that demonstrates God’s character to the world. Difficult? Yes. Gospel? Yes! Possible? Only with God’s grace and help.

It has been my privilege to sit with these awesome, unpretentious lay people as they mature in faith; as they follow Christ and bear witness to him; as they fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. No small wonder Religious Studies programs in the United States are using Canon Irvine’s Study Resources in their Prayer and Spiritual Development Classes.