My little tussle with John brought a new insight (see here and here). Obedience is love. Just a little further up from John 14:23 is John 14:15:
"If you love me, you will obey what I command."
No, it's not incredibly brilliant. It's almost Orwellian: Obedience is Love. That's the point. In America, it cuts against that anti-authoritarian grain.
Almost a year and a half ago as Mark Shea, Rod Dreher, and Fr. Wilson were making wise comments about the Catholic Church's sex scandals, my meager contribution was to quote John 21. Here's an extended quote (NIV, John 21:15-19):
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
18 Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Jesus's three question's parallel Peter's three denials. There is also the view that Jesus talking about sacrificial love while Peter replies with brotherly love (I found this page in a Google search, which discusses both statements). I don't want to take away from that. But Jesus is also asking for obedience. "Do you love me?" is bound to "Feed my sheep."
It's no secret that the American Catholic Church has failed to catechize American Catholics. America bishops have failed to carry out Christ's command. "Do you love me?" I agree that this failure is not ubiquitous throughout AmChurch. I lay this blame on the "Spirit of Vatican II" liberal finger-painting catechesis. Love ain't just Kumbaya my Lord. It's more than that. It's obedience. There's just no way to connect your "love of God" with dissent to the Church's teachings on abortion.
And then there is the opposite end of the spectrum. Mark Shea loves to point out that RadTrad SSPXers and the like are bitter people. It's no secret where I go next. With Feeneyites, SSPXers, and sedevacantists, the central issue is obedience. It's no wonder that they're bitter.
But more than this. The first commandment is to love God with all your heart. That does not square with disobedience.
"Do you love me?"
Posted by Bob at February 6, 2004 09:51 AM