Earlier in the Gospel we see that the most important commandment is to love God totally and, at the same time, to love one's neighbour as oneself. Here Jesus goes one step further. He tells us to 'love one another as I have loved you'. And the extent of that love is that one 'can have no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends'. Which, of course, is exactly what Jesus Himself did. Here there is no mention of loving God because to love our brothers and sisters to that extent already presumes love for God, our loving God in them. And, when we have that love, we become 'friends' of Jesus and not just 'servants'. As friends we have been told everything we need to know to be close to God and Jesus - and that 'everything' is in our loving each other totally and unconditionally. And our being able to love like this is itself a gift, a grace from God. It is with His love already in us that we are able to love others. And that love must 'bear fruit', lasting fruit. Love that does not reach out to others is no love at all.