Sixth Sunday of Easter

05-06-2018Weekly Reflection©2018 Liturgical Publications, Inc.

"I have called you friends." Authentic friendship can seem hard to come by these days, especially in our transient society. We move away from family, change jobs, switch parishes, and end up in entirely new places with entirely new people. When we look for new friends, we all have different qualities we're looking for. While we may think of certain standards of behavior necessary to be a "good" friend, we would hardly refer to them as rules or "commandments."

In fact, if a friendship or romantic relationship-new or old becomes characterized by imposed obligations, we would rightly be suspicious. Friendships, we understand, ought to be characterized by freedom. We love the person, even sacrifice for them at times because, within ourselves, we want to maintain the friendship. So why does Jesus use the language of command as he calls the Apostles his friends? "You are my friends if you do what I command you."

Jesus is radically transforming the concept of commandment. In the Jewish heritage of the Apostles, they would hear the word "command" and immediately think of the strict Levitical law and distance from God. In introducing the language of friendship, Jesus ties "commandment" to inner freedom of heart. The disciples have this freedom precisely because they know "what [the] Master is doing." Jesus has invited his followers into intimate friendship all along. He shares openly with them. He has patience with their flaws. He isn't scandalized by their failures. He celebrates their successes. We, too, have been called by love and invited into a relationship with Jesus. It is you and I that Jesus chooses and appoints. He does so personally, not from a distant mountain shrouded in clouds. This "new  ommandment" to "love one another" is received around the shared table in the breaking of the bread.

En nuestro círculo personal de amigos es, naturalmente, preferible escoger cuidadosamente un grupo pequeño. Hay personas con las que nos sentimos cómodos, nos comparten sus valores e intereses, nos apoyan y nos hacen felices. En este Evangelio Jesús nos reta a ensanchar nuestro entendimiento de la palabra amigo. Al amar como Jesús nos ama, debemos automáticamente tratar a los demás como amigos. Personas, a las que les damos atención, preocupación, cuidado, respeto y dignidad.

El amar a Jesús, es dar nuestra vida por estos amigos, personas junto a nosotros, extranjeros, inmigrantes, y aun yendo más allá nuestros enemigos. Precisamente, lo que hacemos cuando suceden desastres naturales, como terremotos y ciclones. Nos esmeramos por ayudar a quien sea sin conocerlo. "Este es mi mandamiento: que se amen unos a otros como yo los he amado. No hay amor más grande que dar la vida por sus amigos, y son ustedes mis amigos si cumplen lo que les mando". (Juan 15:12-14). Para crecer el círculo de amigos al estilo de Jesús, fijémonos en el crecimiento de aceptación de los que nos rodean en la familia y la sociedad. "Todos deben entrar en el circulo". "Ya no los llamo servidores, porque un servidor no sabe lo que hace su patrón. Los llamo amigos, porque les he dado a conocer todo lo que aprendí de mi Padre". (Juan 15:15). Quiere decir, que, debemos de tomar las cargas y las alegrías de los demás como nuestras. Examinemos nuestras actitudes de amistad. ¿Cómo trato a mi esposa, esposo, a nuestros hijos? ¿Cómo trato a mis trabajadores? Entonces, que aprendí de la Palabra de Dios hoy, soy ¿Siervo o amigo?

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