Feast of Saint
Matthias, apostle
(Acts 1:15-17.20-26; John 15:9-17)
A mother was concerned about the bad habits developing in
her teenage daughter. She saw as the
source of the girl’s vices the friends with whom she was associating. So the mother challenged the teenager to give
up the friends – a move which was initially resented but in time came to be
appreciated. People are not only known
by the friends they have but become like them.
For this reason we hear Jesus’ words in today’s gospel with great joy.
From the beginning of the Gospel of John Jesus speaks as the incarnate Son of God. He lives on a completely different, what
might be called a “higher,” plain than other humans. Because of this divine nature, it seems that
humans will always remain subservient to him.
However, in today’s passage Jesus tells his disciples that they have
become his friends. After years under
his tutelage they now share deeply and completely Jesus’ own interests. It is more wonderful than being born into the
aristocracy or being made a CEO.
Just as surely as St. Matthias shared friendship with
Jesus, so may we. Of course, it entails
keeping his commandment to love both God and neighbor. It also assumes a continual dialogue with
Jesus in prayer. As his friends, we are
to listen to Jesus’ words in the gospel and share with him are own joys and
anxieties. In due time we will find
ourselves becoming just like him.
No comments:
Post a Comment