As I Have Loved You
On Holy Thursday, in the quiet of the Upper Room, Jesus gave His friends a final command:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
He didn’t say: perform miracles as I have done.
He didn’t say: draw crowds, preach to thousands, or build something impressive.
He said: Love.
And He gave that command not after a grand, awe-inspiring moment, but after something almost embarrassingly humble—He had just finished washing their feet. Dusty, calloused, ordinary feet.
It’s a strange time to give a life-defining command. But Jesus knew exactly what He was doing.
Because He knows our hearts.
He knows how easily we chase what looks like greatness. How naturally we’re drawn to big gestures, public recognition, and the desire to leave a mark. We call it legacy—what endures after we’re gone.
But Jesus shows us something different.
He reminds us that what truly lasts isn’t the showy stuff—it’s the small, faithful acts of love. The service no one sees. The patient listening. The quiet sacrifice. The kind word offered when it costs us something.
Legacy, in the eyes of Christ, is a byproduct. It’s not the goal—it’s what happens when we live a life of love, one day at a time, one person at a time.
So maybe the question this Holy Thursday is simply: “Who am I called to love right now?”
Because that’s what He asked of us. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. And that’s the kind of legacy worth leaving.
Reflections by:
Mark Quaranta
