We find ourselves once again in the Easter season—this sacred time of joy, renewal, and reflection on the risen life of Christ. But today’s Gospel takes us back, not to the empty tomb, but to the upper room on the night of the Last Supper. This is a moment filled with tension, sorrow, and anticipation. Judas has just walked out to betray Jesus. The shadow of the cross looms.

And yet, at this very moment—perhaps the darkest in His earthly ministry—Jesus speaks of glory. “Now is the Son of Man glorified…” Not after the resurrection, not after the triumph, but now—in the moment of betrayal and impending suffering. It is here that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the divine heart, and leaves His disciples with what He calls a “new commandment.” Let us reflect upon three key movements of this passage that form the foundation of the Christian life:

1. The Cross is the Moment of Glory

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him…” The context of this statement is crucial. Jesus says this immediately after Judas leaves to betray Him. What the world might see as failure, betrayal, and humiliation, Jesus interprets as the beginning of glorification. Why?

Because in John's Gospel, glory is not what the world thinks, not about power or recognition —glory is not applause, success, or admiration. In Jesus, glory is the revelation of God's love made visible in self-giving. The Cross is not defeat; it is the moment when divine love reaches its fullness. In the Cross, Jesus reveals the full extent of divine love. Jesus is glorified precisely because He chooses to obey the Father in love, even unto death.

In the ancient world, crucifixion was a symbol of shame and humiliation. But Jesus transforms the meaning of the Cross. In the “scandal” of the Cross, the self-emptying love of God is unveiled, and it is in this love that God is glorified.

A question for us to ponder upon: As disciples, do we see our moments of suffering or sacrifice as opportunities to glorify God? The Christian life is not about avoiding the cross, but about finding God’s glory in it.

2. Christ’s Departure: Not Absence, But Commissioning 

“My children, I will be with you only a little while longer…”

Jesus speaks these words with tenderness: “My children.” This is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus uses this phrase. It echoes the language of a parent preparing a child for something difficult. He is preparing His disciples for His Passion and the time when His physical presence will no longer be with them. But this is not a moment of abandonment—it is a moment of trust and mission.

Jesus is laying the groundwork for the Church. He is passing on the torch, so to speak. The disciples will now be His body on earth, animated by the Holy Spirit. His love, His words, His ministry—all of it is entrusted to them, and through them, to us.

When we experience spiritual dryness, loss, or silence, do we see it as God’s absence? Or might it be an invitation to grow, to trust, and to act with greater responsibility? Jesus is not gone—He is present in us, and He calls us to be His hands and heart in the world.

3. The New Commandment: Love as I Have Loved You

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

At the heart of this Gospel is Jesus' most profound instruction—one that defines what it means to be His disciple. But what exactly makes this a “new” commandment? After all, the command to love one’s neighbor already existed in Jewish law (Leviticus 19:18). The newness lies in the measure of love: “As I have loved you.”

Jesus is no longer asking for love in general, but a specific kind of love—His love: love that washes feet (humility), A love that forgives enemies (mercy), A love that lays down its life (sacrifice). This is the love we are called to imitate. And this love is to be the sign to the world that we belong to Him: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The world will know Christ only and through our authentic love, like HIS LOVE. 

As we journey through this Easter season, let us not forget what kind of Church we are meant to be:  a Church of love that glorifies. When we carry our crosses faithfully, when we take ownership of the mission, and when we love others as Christ has loved us, we reveal to the world the face of the risen Christ.