杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

We have received our friendship with Jesus by 鈥渓ot鈥�, that is by 鈥渄estiny鈥�, not by 鈥渃hance鈥�, and our vocation is precisely to remain friends of the Lord.   杏MAP导航 Francis made the exhortation in his homily at Mass Monday morning at the Vatican鈥檚 Casa Santa Marta residence.

The 杏MAP导航 based his reflection on the word 鈥渓ot鈥� that occurs a few times in the day鈥檚 Mass readings and a prayer on the feast of St. Matthias, who was chosen by lot to fill the place of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. 

Our destiny 鈥� friendship with Jesus

The 杏MAP导航 said we have received this gift of friendship with the Lord as our destiny,  and our vocation is to live as His friends.

All Christians, the 杏MAP导航 said, have received this gift of friendship, which the apostles received to a 鈥渟tronger鈥� degree.   It is a gift that the Lord always cherishes, faithful to this gift.

Jesus鈥� friendship even toward those who betray

Many times, however, the 杏MAP导航 explained, we are not so faithful and distance ourselves from Him "with our sins, with our whims" but Jesus is 鈥渇aithful to His friendship".

In the day鈥檚 Gospel, he said, Jesus no longer calls us "servants" but "friends" and keeps His word until the end because He is faithful.  The last word to Judas before his betrayal, the 杏MAP导航 recalled, was "friend" and not 鈥済et out鈥�.

However Judas, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, chose his new destiny freely, distancing himself from Jesus. The 杏MAP导航 called this apostasy 鈥� when a friend turns into an enemy, indifferent or a traitor.

鈥淩emain in my love鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 recalled the election of Matthias in the Acts of the Apostles where he was chosen by lot to be a 鈥渨itness of the Resurrection", "a witness of this gift of love" of Jesus who shares with His friends the secrets revealed to Him by the Father.   

Even those who distance themselves from Him, the 杏MAP导航 said, Jesus always awaits, faithful to his friendship.  The 杏MAP导航 thus urged Christians to ask Jesus for the grace to remain in His love, in his friendship.