Today we celebrate St Athanasius - a Church Father and doctor of the Church. At a young age he was named Archbishop of Alexandria. He was an intelligent and passionate defender of the faith and opposed Arianism. More particularly, Athanasius explained that the Father and Son are co-equal, co-eternal and of the same substance. Like the Father, Jesus is divine and always existed.

In the Gospel, Jesus describes this relationship with the Father. Jesus keeps the Father's commands and abides in the Father's love. This is what leads to life and joy. More than this, Jesus desires that we also share in this relationship. When we keep the Father's commands and abide in his love, we enter into the joy of the Father and the Son.

Jesus opened a way not just for Jewish people, but for all people to come to God. It is not easy to love others, especially when we risk being hurt. At the same time, when we dare to love one another as Jesus has loved us, we are drawn into something greater than ourselves. When we love we are drawn closer to God. When we love we get a taste of the love shared by the Father and the Son.