friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants anymore, because
servants do not know what their master is about. Instead, I have called you friends, since
I have made known to you everything I learned from my Father. You did not choose me;
it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything
you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. This is my command, that you love one
another.
Reflect
What does it mean to be a friend of God? What can we learn about our relationship
with God by reflecting on human friendship?
The foundation of our human friendships is truly knowing the other person. We
know more than their names, jobs, and hobbies. When it comes to true friends, we
know their joys and sorrows, their past and their dreams of the future – and they know
us. God knows our hearts and minds and he wants us to know him. He has revealed
himself to us in Scripture and Tradition.
We make it a point to spend time with our friends, catching up, talking about different
issues, or just sitting quietly together, knowing that we are there for each other. God
wants to spend time with us in prayer. We can talk to God about what is happening in
our lives, discerning his will in the decisions we face or just resting in his presence.
Finally, we are always there when our friends need us, ready to help. While God
does not need us, he calls us to help his beloved children, our brothers and sisters,
giving our lives to them in love.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023