One of the greatest treasures on a human level is to encounter a true, loyal, faithful friend. Indeed this is a priceless pearl. The Word of God states that to find a true friend is a true treasure.
If on a human level friendship is to be treasured, protected, cultivated and cherished, how much more should we treasure a true and dynamic friendship with Jesus?
If on a human level friendship is to be treasured, protected, cultivated and cherished, how much more should we treasure a true and dynamic friendship with Jesus?
Shortly before offering Himself to the Eternal Father as a Sacrificial Victim on Good Friday— dying on the cross
for all of humanity and for each and every one of us individually— Jesus
spoke at length at the Last Supper.
for all of humanity and for each and every one of us individually— Jesus
spoke at length at the Last Supper.
In addition to washing the feet of the Apostles, instituting the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders (the
Priesthood), and giving us the greatest commandment to love one another as He
loved us, He also offered to the Apostles and us a special relationship—-
Friendship with Him.
Priesthood), and giving us the greatest commandment to love one another as He
loved us, He also offered to the Apostles and us a special relationship—-
Friendship with Him.
He said, “I do not call you servants
because the servant does not know what the Master is about; I call you FRIENDS. “
Jesus Himself longs to enter into Friendship with you and me.
because the servant does not know what the Master is about; I call you FRIENDS. “
Jesus Himself longs to enter into Friendship with you and me.
This “pearl of infinite price”—
Friendship with Jesus is always available to all, but especially to you and me
right now. If you like, Jesus comes like
the Good Shepherd, with staff in hand, but with the other hand He is gently
knocking at the door. (Rev. 3)
Friendship with Jesus is always available to all, but especially to you and me
right now. If you like, Jesus comes like
the Good Shepherd, with staff in hand, but with the other hand He is gently
knocking at the door. (Rev. 3)
The painter Holman Hunt painted Jesus the Good Shepherd, with staff in hand and knocking at the door. An acute observer approached the painter with a complaint: the painter had forgotten to paint the door knob! Holman Hunt held his ground and
responded: “The door knob is present,
but within the door.”
responded: “The door knob is present,
but within the door.”
Jesus indeed is knocking at the door of your heart, but it is up to you to open up the door and to receive Him into
your home, into the depths of your heart. Right now Jesus is knocking and
waiting for you to open! Are you ready
and willing?
your home, into the depths of your heart. Right now Jesus is knocking and
waiting for you to open! Are you ready
and willing?
In your conversation with your Friend
Jesus, what might be some of the topics of your conversation? The response is simple, clear and to the
point: ANYTHING!!!!
Jesus, what might be some of the topics of your conversation? The response is simple, clear and to the
point: ANYTHING!!!!
However, to help us to initiate and
engage in this Friendly conversation with the Lord, we will offer five short
suggestions and these suggestions do not exhaust the topics that you can talk
about with the Lord. Remember! You can
talk to the Lord about anything.
engage in this Friendly conversation with the Lord, we will offer five short
suggestions and these suggestions do not exhaust the topics that you can talk
about with the Lord. Remember! You can
talk to the Lord about anything.
Remember also that the Lord earnestly desires for you to talk to Him. Furthermore, you should never feel inhibited at
any time and place to open up and talk to Jesus your best of Friends. Jesus will never hurt you, humiliate you, misunderstand
you. Rather, conversation with Jesus heals, strengthens, encourages, enlightens
and sanctifies. Off we go….
any time and place to open up and talk to Jesus your best of Friends. Jesus will never hurt you, humiliate you, misunderstand
you. Rather, conversation with Jesus heals, strengthens, encourages, enlightens
and sanctifies. Off we go….
First, THANKS! What do you have that you indeed did not receive from God? Only one thing: your sins!
Look from within your mind, heart, soul, memory, imagination; look from
the inside out at the beauty of nature, the food you eat, the health you enjoy,
the opportunities you have had. All of
these gifts that come from God, the author of all good gifts, should result in
a constant hymn of thanksgiving that should spontaneously flow from your
heart. “Give thanks to the Lord for He
is good for His love endures forever.”
Look from within your mind, heart, soul, memory, imagination; look from
the inside out at the beauty of nature, the food you eat, the health you enjoy,
the opportunities you have had. All of
these gifts that come from God, the author of all good gifts, should result in
a constant hymn of thanksgiving that should spontaneously flow from your
heart. “Give thanks to the Lord for He
is good for His love endures forever.”
Second, LOVE! The greatest of all commandments is to love
the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Lk.10) Spouses
should frequently express their love for the other; otherwise the love can grow
cold. Jesus wants to hear from our lips and our hearts that we indeed do love
Him. St. John of the Cross says that in the twilight of our existence we will
be judged on love. A suggestion! The
most important time to tell the Lord you love Him is immediately after you have
received Him into your heart in Holy Communion. His Sacred Heart is united with
your heart. Then, tell Him you love Him!
the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Lk.10) Spouses
should frequently express their love for the other; otherwise the love can grow
cold. Jesus wants to hear from our lips and our hearts that we indeed do love
Him. St. John of the Cross says that in the twilight of our existence we will
be judged on love. A suggestion! The
most important time to tell the Lord you love Him is immediately after you have
received Him into your heart in Holy Communion. His Sacred Heart is united with
your heart. Then, tell Him you love Him!
Third, PETITION/SUPPLICATION FOR SALVATION. Jesus said, “Ask and you
will receive… (Mt.7:7). Our asking has no limits! However, begging fervently to
the Lord for our salvation, the salvation of our family members, the conversion
and salvation of sinners, as well as the salvation of the entire world,
exceedingly rejoices the Sacred heart of Jesus. Ask for the greatest gifts—
that is, the salvation of immortal souls! St. Faustina and the children of
Fatima were constantly begging Jesus for the salvation of souls; we should do
the same!
will receive… (Mt.7:7). Our asking has no limits! However, begging fervently to
the Lord for our salvation, the salvation of our family members, the conversion
and salvation of sinners, as well as the salvation of the entire world,
exceedingly rejoices the Sacred heart of Jesus. Ask for the greatest gifts—
that is, the salvation of immortal souls! St. Faustina and the children of
Fatima were constantly begging Jesus for the salvation of souls; we should do
the same!
Fourth, FORGIVENESS AND MERCY. If we
hurt a dear friend then we ask pardon. By sinning we hurt the Lord and damage
our Friendship with Him. Therefore, we should apologize and tell the Lord sorry
for having wounded or even ruptured the bonds of friendship. Archbishop Fulton Sheen defines sin as
“Hurting the one you love.” Friendship
with Jesus—the pearl of infinite price— supersedes even our own natural
life. For that reason St. Dominic
Savio’s motto resonates powerfully— “Death rather than sin!”
hurt a dear friend then we ask pardon. By sinning we hurt the Lord and damage
our Friendship with Him. Therefore, we should apologize and tell the Lord sorry
for having wounded or even ruptured the bonds of friendship. Archbishop Fulton Sheen defines sin as
“Hurting the one you love.” Friendship
with Jesus—the pearl of infinite price— supersedes even our own natural
life. For that reason St. Dominic
Savio’s motto resonates powerfully— “Death rather than sin!”
Fifth, THE WEIGHT (PROBLEM) that in the present is causing suffering to your heart. Jesus loves us so much that He willingly
shares His life with us. That means that He shares His joys but also wants to
share with us—at least to a limited degree—a splinter of His cross. Many of us fall into sadness and even
depression because we are trying to carry the cross in our lives by
ourselves. We really cannot do this! The cross is too heavy and painful, such that
it can crush us. Either that cross makes
us better or bitter and it all depends on one thing– If we carry the cross alone, bitterness sets
in; however, if we share the cross with
the Lord either He can take the cross away from us or He can share carrying the
cross with us; and He always carries the bigger weight of the cross. St. Peter says: “Cast your cares on the Lord
because He watches over you.” Then Jesus
Himself says: “Come to me all of you who
are weary and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me;
for I am meek and humble of heart. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Mt. 11:28-30). A burden shared with a
friend is greatly alleviated. Remember
the song: “He ain’t heavy he is my
brother!” Jesus is indeed our older
Brother and He desires so much to enter into friendship with us. He wants to
share His life with us and He wants us to share our life with Him. May Jesus
always be your Best Friend and that pearl of infinite price!
shares His life with us. That means that He shares His joys but also wants to
share with us—at least to a limited degree—a splinter of His cross. Many of us fall into sadness and even
depression because we are trying to carry the cross in our lives by
ourselves. We really cannot do this! The cross is too heavy and painful, such that
it can crush us. Either that cross makes
us better or bitter and it all depends on one thing– If we carry the cross alone, bitterness sets
in; however, if we share the cross with
the Lord either He can take the cross away from us or He can share carrying the
cross with us; and He always carries the bigger weight of the cross. St. Peter says: “Cast your cares on the Lord
because He watches over you.” Then Jesus
Himself says: “Come to me all of you who
are weary and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me;
for I am meek and humble of heart. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Mt. 11:28-30). A burden shared with a
friend is greatly alleviated. Remember
the song: “He ain’t heavy he is my
brother!” Jesus is indeed our older
Brother and He desires so much to enter into friendship with us. He wants to
share His life with us and He wants us to share our life with Him. May Jesus
always be your Best Friend and that pearl of infinite price!
