Thoughts for the Day

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus taught his disciples that they were his friends when they obeyed his commands. As we have seen yesterday his commands are to love God, and to love our neighbour as ourself (Mark 12.30-31). So today I bring you an old story about friendship:

Friendship:

A student came to his teacher and asked him, “Master, how many friends should a person have – one or a lot?”
“The answer is simple,” said the teacher. “Pick me that red apple from the highest branch.”
The student looked up. "But it’s too high. I can’t reach it.”
“Ask a friend, maybe he will help you,” the Master answered.
The student called another student and stood on his shoulders, but had to admit defeat.
“Don’t you have more friends?” the Master asked.
The student asked more friends who started standing up on each other’s shoulders and backs grunting, trying to build a live pyramid. But the apple was too high, the pyramid crumbled, and the student wasn’t able to pick the apple.
Then the teacher called him back. “So, did you understand how many friends a person needs?”
“I did, Master,” the student said, rubbing his injuries, “A lot – so together we could solve any problem.”
“Yes,” the Master answered, disappointed. "You need a lot of friends, so that among all of these athletes there would be at least one smart person who would bring a ladder!”

Jesus says He is our friend when we seek to obey His commands by applying His rule of love to the world. He is a friend who is always there to help us - we just have to ask for His help and listen out for His wisdom, which is infinitely superior than anything else and may come in surprising ways!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught Your disciples that you were their friend
when they obeyed Your commandments,
and You offer us the same gracious hand of friendship.
You called us at our Baptism to follow You.
and we have responded to Your voice.
Help us to walk in Your footsteps each day,
seeking to obey Your commands to love You,
and to love others as You loved us.
May we constantly listen for Your wisdom,
in whichever way it comes.
Amen.