Daily reflection _ you are my friend


YOU ARE MY FRIEND
Jesus gave the best that He had and all that He had.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Is there a love that produces immeasurable joy? Jesus speaks of the love which He and the Father have for those who belong to them. We can never out-give God in love, because He has loved us without measure. Our love for Him is a response to His exceeding mercy and kindness towards us.
What kind of friendship do we have with our God?  Have we ever asked that question of ourselves? One of the special marks of favor shown in the Scriptures is to be called a friend of God. We hear in Isaiah 41 that Abraham is called the friend of God. God speaks with Abraham as a man speaks with his friend. Jesus, the Lord and Master, in turn, calls the disciples His friends rather than His servants.
What does this special friendship mean? Friendship with God certainly entails a loving relationship which goes beyond mere duty and obedience. Jesus' discourse on friendship and love echoes the words in Proverbs 17: "A friend loves at all times; and a brother and sister is born for adversity." The distinctive feature of Jesus' relationship with the disciples and us is a personal love for each of us; a love that is unconditional, wholly directed to the good of others, and also sacrificial. Jesus gave the best that He had and all that He had. Jesus gave His very life for us in order to secure for us everlasting life with the Father.
At one of my past deacon retreats, Deacon Bill Ditewig shared this list with us.  It is a check list for daily ministry:
         Contemplative Seeing
         Affective Response
         Practical Caring
         Sustained Assistance                  
Being attentive and engaging in the action this checklist suggests brings the joy and hope that Paul told us about! Our love for our heavenly Father is a response to His exceeding mercy and kindness towards us.
True love is costly. Those who truly love give the best they can offer, and are willing to sacrifice everything they have for the good of others. God willingly paid the price for our redemption -- the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. That's the nature of true friendship and love -- the willingness to give all for the beloved. True friends will lay down their lives for each other. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that He is our friend and loves us whole-heartedly and unconditionally. When we have a love that fills our hearts, transforms our mind and frees us to love our neighbor, then we will bear much fruit in our lives, fruit that will last for eternity.