Beloved, in today's Gospel we hear words spoken by Jesus before his death and Resurrection.  Jesus, here, is teaching at the Last Supper. It is difficult to choose to love when faced with hatred and anger.  Jesus tells the disciples that all will know that they are his disciples because of the love they show for one another. This description of the early Christian community will be repeated in the Acts of the Apostles: “See how they love one another.” Christian love is the hallmark of Christianity.  We see it lived in the witness of the martyrs.  We see it in the example of the lives of the saints.  We see it in the holy women and men who live and love daily, making small and large sacrifices for others.