We who are mothers and fathers will always be mother and father to our children. This fact will never change. But how sad it is if our children who have become young adults, are never able to call us friends. Likewise if we are never able to call our children our friends. For me, my father and mother are my best friends (bffs) I will ever have. While I will always be respectful to them, I sit at table with them as equals and can share with them everything and anything under the sun, moon and stars! If we cannot fathom having such a unique and special relationship with our parents then how are we going to fathom that Jesus is willing and able to call us His friends?
Yes the Lord our God whom all Authority of Heaven and Earth have been given to by God our Heavenly Father, calls us His friends! The only provision, caveat is that we do what He commands us. ”Love one another as I have loved you.”
And so today in our Church how are we living out His commandment in our dealings with one another? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decisions and care for brothers and sisters during this pandemic? Are we going above and beyond for love of our brethren or are we imposing more restrictions then necessary? Are we afraid that we have limited resources at hand?
Jesus has commissioned us to go out and bear fruit and He will give us anything we ask in His name. What a friend we have in Jesus! Amen Alleluia!
First reading
Acts 15:22-31 ·
It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by us not to burden you beyond these essentials
The apostles and elders decided to choose delegates to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; the whole church concurred with this. They chose Judas known as Barsabbas and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them:
‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of pagan birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some of our members have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds. They acted without any authority from us; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, men we highly respect who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.’
The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.
Gospel
John 15:12-17
What I command you is to love one another
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’
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