From today’s gospel we should take just how generous and
loving God is, but at the same time understand what the consequences of that
generosity and love are. For in today’s gospel Jesus makes it clear what he
wants for us: he wants for our joy to be complete, for us to be called his
friends and for us to be those chosen to go out and bear fruit.
What generosity that is! Joy is so much more than happiness
– it encapsulates all of the love, hope and happiness that can be possibly
hoped for in the perfect situation: when we are at one with ourselves, with our
neighbour and with Almighty God. We have inner peace.
What it is to be a friend of Jesus! Friends can be relied
on; friends have a special bond; they share special moments; they look out for
each other. Imagine having a friend in God! This would have been impossible for
the Jews of Jesus’ day to accept – that Almighty God would deign to associate
with us on special terms, would come to us on our terms.
And we would bear fruit. We would be people so polarised in
the Lord that as the branches of the vine we would go out as witnesses and
evangelists of the Word of God and the love of God.
But, just like last week, this offer comes with an
expectation by God on our part, but that expectation is one of goodness and
ultimately for our benefit. We must keep his commandments. We must remain in
his love so that we ensure that we do not walk away from the love of God that
we have in our lives.
But we are also called to love one another. Not just like,
but love in the way of service that Jesus has for us: love one another AS I
have loved you. It’s a big ask, but its there for us: do that and we are no
longer servants and we can know the Father’s business!
If we live like this our lives will be complete.
Gospel John 15:9-17 ©
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.’