LOVE AS TRUST:  HOW FRIENDS ARE MADE

HOMILY OF THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B

Acts 10:25-26.34-35.44-48, John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17.

THEME: LOVE AS TRUST:  HOW FRIENDS ARE MADE

We don’t call someone a friend because of the good thing he or she has done for us. We make people friends despite who they are. Friendship is a game of choice.

Moreover, it takes a great level of trust to open up our deep secret to someone. It is risky to entrust expose our lives to others. We give such privilege to those who we know have shown us a certain degree of allegiance.

The Lord Jesus said in our today’s gospel,

“If you keep my commandment, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10

To love one another entails risking our lives so as to gain the trust of others. It entails a kind of openness which at times can expose us to danger.  Jesus took such risk in the company of the like of Judas, though all worked to the fulfillment of his mission on earth. At times, for lack of trust, we keep to ourselves, and refuse to release some information to those who may be the chief determinant in the unfolding of our projects or plans. For the fear of being sold out, we die in silence in the face of our problems. The mission of Christ cannot reach the heart of man without such kind of delicate closeness.

Furthermore, the Lord, reiterates, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”   He further says, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but  I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” John 15:15

As we draw people close to our hearts in a loving relationship, we may run the risk of exposing ourselves to danger, but we must know that it takes deep intimacy to cultivate the kind of understanding upon which true trust can survive.

More so, we make our own friends by choice. No one is truly worthy of the name friend. It is love that can make us give the name to someone. This means that we are ready to put up with their excesses as well as not being parasitic on their strengths.  We are the one who assigns the title to those we want to bring closer to ourselves. The Lord said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” John 15:16

However, it is bad to waste true and genuine love. We must not trade on people’s love for us or misuse it. It is painful if we do not reciprocate a love that is genuine and truly sacrificial like the love of Jesus for us.  However, true love is not the love of self or selfish love with which we want to claim the others for ourselves. It is not quest for our ego desires.  It is the love we show others for their sake.

Jesus, in love, laid down his life for us that we may be saved. He showed us the love of his Father. We too must love one another not for our selfish gains, but for the good of others. It is left for others to accept our love or to reject it.

May the love of God abide in us, and may God show us his mercy for the times we have wasted his love. May we always relate with others with the perfect love of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.