John 15:12-17: Daily Gospel XXVI

I remember the first time I started feeling a stronger, one-on-one relationship with my dad. My eighth grade year I came down with a very bad case of the eighth grade version of senioritis. I was very much done with the school year and knew I'd be going to a different high school than my friends...I was in a time of a lot of transition. Which, on top of puberty, is always (re: never) fun.

I don't recall now whether I didn't have any homework, or just very little, but many of my evenings were very free. My dad and I began to build a habit of playing double solitaire late into the evening hours. Sometimes we'd talk a lot about what I was experiencing at school. Sometimes there was no talk at all. Sometimes we'd be silly and compare feet sizes. All in all, it was my dad showing me how much he loved me. He was treating me as an "equal" and letting me spend time with him, even past my bedtime. It was him recognizing my time of maturing and needing some support in the process.

This Gospel is among the most loving and tender that I encounter in Scripture. The mixed emotions of joy and sadness of the disciples is palpable. The tender care of Jesus is self-evident. May we love one another with that same care and concern.

Today's post inspired by a meatball sub and cheap merlot. Because it's been a week.