Luke 6:12-19 HE PRAYED AND CHOSE HIS FRIENDS
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In these days, it is not easy to find a good friend. It was not easy for the Lord either. Scripture reminds us, "Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure. I need a faithful friend. Someone I can turn to, speak to, open my heart to and trust my most inner secrets to. The Lord prayed and chose The Twelve. How lonely he must have felt. Thomas who seemed to question everything; Peter who appeared to "know it all"; John who reminds us over and over again that he was "the disciple whom Jesus loved"; Judas who would betray the Lord.
How lonely the Lord must have felt on earth. No place to rest his head and no one to open his heart to. Jesus would often spend his evenings - his nights - in prayer. He did so this one evening with his Father. "When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles". In hindsight, given their names and given their history, we can honestly say, this list is amazing!
But what is shocking is that near the end of Christ's life, when his hour had come; knowing full well that darkness would fill the night and that one of his very own would soon betray him, and betray him with a kiss; and that his little flock would run away out of fear and he would be abandoned by all, he decided to call them his "friends."
The Lord did not find friends the day he consecrated them Apostles. He made them his friends. He opened their hearts to the Father's heart. He opened their minds to God's holy Will. He strengthened their faith with the Holy Spirit. He made them his friends. He entrusted to them the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. He entrusted to them the keys of salvation. He shared with them his love, mercy and compassion. He spilled his blood for them so that they would learn to spill their blood for us.
This is the life of Christ. This is the life of the Apostles. This is our life as Christians. Sacrifice is the only way to show true, unfiltered and unselfish love. This is the mark of a Christian. We read how "Great crowds would follow the Lord hoping for? Miracles to be seen, healings to be made, bread to eat, stomachs to be filled. They did not go away with empty stomachs but they did go away, the vast majority of them, with empty hearts. We know because the crowds grew smaller as his passion grew nearer. The Lord chose his friends well, even Judas. He earned their friendship, and in turn the Saints and Martyrs have earned our friendship. What we do with this is up to us! May we never depart from this holy band of brothers and sisters!
"Dear Jesus, I want to be your friend today. Do with me as you will. "Whoever gives to the Lord, receives one hundred times more!
Origin: thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com
