I NO LONGER CALL YOU SLAVES
At 15.22-3 1; Ps 56; Jn 15,12- 17
4 MAY
Saint Paul reveals to Christians that the love of Christ is stupendously high. He died for us when we were godless, enemies of God. He died just for the unjust.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Rm 5,1-11).
The prophet Amos reveals to us that the friends of God are his prophets. He reveals to them all. He does nothing without first talking to them. The prophets are his confidants.
Hear this word, O men of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you, over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: You alone have I favoured, more than all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your crimes. Do two walk together unless they have agreed? Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything? If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened? If evil befalls a city, has not the Lord caused it? Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. The lion roars – who will not be afraid! The Lord God speaks – who will not prophesy! (Am 3,1-8).
Micah instead puts us in front of a corrupt world in which friendship is dead.
Put no trust in a friend, have no confidence in a companion; Against her who lies in your bosom guard the portals of your mouth. For the son dishonours his father, the daughter rises up against her mother, The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies are those of his household (Mi 7,5-6).
The Gospel reveals to us that Judas is not a friend of Jesus. He is not in his truth. This suggests to us that if one wants to be a friend of Jesus, he must love his Word.
When the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make the preparations?” And he answered them, “When you go into the city, a man will meet you carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house that he enters and say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”‘ He will show you a large upper room that is furnished. Make the preparations there.” Then they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them, and there they prepared the Passover (Lk 22,7-13).
Whoever wants to receive the confidences or revelations of Jesus must become his friend. How? Abiding in his Word. Not only does the Son manifest and reveal himself to the one who lives in the Word, the Father also manifests and reveals himself. He reveals his heart to him.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.
Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true friends of Christ Jesus.