Daily Reflection for Friday, May 20, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052022.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 15:22-31
Responsorial: Psalm 57:8-10,12
Gospel: John 15:12-17
Our reflection on Friday’s reading:
“… I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” John 15:15
Today’s gospel makes me think deeply about what it means to be a friend to someone else and what it means to me to have very close friends. Friendship is one of those things that is demonstrated when you least expect it. You may not have even considered that you need a friend in that moment but your friend knew it and did something for you because they know you and love you.
Close friends are a rare treasure and probably the most valued possessions that we have. Jesus demonstrated that care for his disciples when he referred to them as friends. He was their master, teacher, and mentor. But he was also learning from them what it was like to be human, and he appreciated their honest questions and feedback when he was teaching them.
The disciples must have been “over the moon” when Jesus referred to them as friends but would fully not understand the true nature of their friendship until they encountered the resurrected Jesus. I suspect that the disciples went from deep despair to true understanding of the mission of Jesus as they encountered their resurrected friend.
If I seek to be a friend of Jesus:
Do I love others as Jesus has loved me? John 15:12
Do I lay down my time, talent, and treasure sacrificially to show my love for others? John 15:13
Do I allow Jesus to choose me to go and bear fruit that will remain? John 15:16
Do I accept Jesus’ command to “love one another”? John 15:17
Jesus has given us a model for being a friend if we dare to accept the challenge!
What a friend we have in Jesus.
Paul Gunn