I call you friends

In today's Gospel text from St. John (15:15), we hear the powerful words: "No longer do I call you servants ... but I ahve called you friends." We are not useless servants but friends! The Lord calls us friends; he makes us his friends; he gives us his friendship.

Jesus defines friendship in two ways. There are no secrets between friends: Christ tells us everything he hears from the Father; he gives us his full confidence and, with confidence, also knowledge. He reveals his face to us, his heart. He shows his tenderness for us, his passionate love that goes to the folly of the cross.

I remember how moved I was as I listened to the Holy Father's homily at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome on April 24, 2005. Three times during that memorable homily, Benedict XVI spoke of the importance of "friendship" with Jesus: "The Church as a whole and all her pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the palce of life, toward friendship with the Son of God, toward the One who gives us life, and life in abundance...

"There is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him."

"Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potention of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation."

Eight months later, in his Angelus address of Jan. 15, 2006, Benedict XVI said: "Friendship with the Teacher guarantees profound peace and serenity to the soul, even in the dark moments and in the msot arduous trials. When faith meets with dark nights, in which the presence of God is no longer 'felt' or 'seen', friendship with Jesus guarantees that in reality nothing can ever separate us from his love" (cf. Rm 8:39).

Again on Aug. 26, 2007, the theme of friendship was front and center: "True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life: It is expressed with goodness of heart, with humility, meekness and mercy, love for justice and truth, and a sincere and honest commitment to peace and reconciliation."

(By Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB)