Peter reacts to Cornelius, who prostrates himself at his feet, making him stand up and saying to him: "I am also a man.". Peter is aware of his smallness. Also the fact that he has brought him to Cornelius is eloquent. God has arranged everything. He recognizes with humility that he is understanding that "God makes no distinction of persons."God is open to all, he came for all, he loves all.
The great problem of the opening of Christianity to the pagans is solved with facts that come from God's initiative. While Peter speaks, the Holy Spirit spreads over the pagans who, together with Cornelius, listen to him. They have not yet received Baptism or Confirmation. It is clear that God can give his grace also without the sacraments. This requires humility from Peter, God could not need him, even though he prefers to let himself always be helped by Christians, because he has asked us to love one another as he has loved us. Love among us is the way for God's love to live in us.
In the house of Cornelius is the love of Peter, who has set out and who has not been afraid to enter the house of a pagan, has accepted the vision of the food, which is all pure, has let his mind be changed by the Holy Spirit. He becomes the means by which the Holy Spirit comes. Also Christians who come from Judaism notice that the Holy Spirit has come down upon the heathen. They hear them speaking in different languages and glorifying God. Their conviction of being the only ones to be loved by God is defeated by the very gestures of God. Peter obeys God and orders them to be baptized. Thus, the first Christians coming from Judaism know the power of the love of the Holy Spirit.
John, in his first letter, reveals to us other aspects of God's love. God himself is love, and love means to love first, as God has done with us, and to love not only with words but with the fact of giving the Son, himself, to give us life and atone for our sins. Therefore, if we have received God's love, we can love one another; and if we love, it means that we have been generated by God and that we have known God.
Jesus declares that He loves us as the Father loves Him, and asks us to abide in His love. He asks us to observe his commandments in order to remain in his love, as he has observed the Father's commandments and remains in his love. In reality, the Father's commandment to Jesus is only one: that of coming among us and giving his life for us, out of love. And the commandment of Jesus to his disciples is only one: the new commandment, to love one another as he has loved us, laying down our lives for one another.
