But Christ is not only King of Truth, he is also King of Love and as such he gave his Apostles his new commandment on Maundy Thursday.  “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another”.  And he draw from that commandment a fundamental practical lesson, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (NRSV, John 13:34,35, our emphasis).

And by love he meant, not a sentimental emotion, but an unfailing goodwill which persists in the face of rejection, and which was for all time expressed by Our Lord’s sacrifice of himself on the Cross when he laid down his life, not for his friends only, but also for his enemies.

And such is the love which his followers are required to show if they are true followers.  It is a love which makes no distinctions but embraces all.  “If you love those who love you”, he said, “what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same…But love your enemies…and you will be the children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (NRSV, Luke 6:32-33, 35).