WONDERING GURU
6th Sunday of Easter 2024
(Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4: 7-10; John 15: 9-17)
Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap
In this life we come across people that betray us, back stab us, hate us, or simply just ignore us. We have seen friends with benefits. We have seen fake friends, opportunists’ friends, indifferent friends. All claim to love you and to be with you infront of your face but behind your back they show their real colours. Sometimes we trust our friends and so we confide personal things in them, but sometimes these so-called ‘trusted’ friends leak our personal information to others or use the same information against us.
There are many such friends in the church, but there are also unique friends that will stick closer than a brother. A friend that will never turn His back on you or back stab you. There will always be a friend that will not throw your mistakes in your face. He will never leave you when all you want to do is cry and cry with someone on your side or literally lean on his shoulder. He will be there 24x7, willing just “to be there”. Such a friend says, “Well, my bro, whenever you need anything, or anyone to talk to, or just someone to be on the phone and not even say a word, or just someone “to be there”, call me.” That is the type of friendship we should all give and have.
Many times, we are so caught up in our own world, in our so occupied lives, that if we receive a phone call, an unexpected visit, or a message, we tend to just blow it off, not knowing that that person is indeed crying for help from his or her heart, or perhaps experiencing suicidal thoughts. You are not forced to be a friend, but we are to be examples of Christ. Proverbs 17:17 says: “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Love at all times and you will be loved. What you sow is what you reap.
What does this mean to us? What does it mean to “lay down your life” as it is written here in today’s gospel? Often times, we look at this verse of “laying down your life” as “ending your life” The Greek does paint a different picture. It most probably refers to: “Commit your life”, “Give your life”, “Ordain your life”, “Purpose your life”. The only translation that could be interpreted as ending your life, would be “give your life,” and I submit to you that it means precisely what it says: “give your life,” not “give your death”.
In verse 13, where it talks about laying down your life, the keyword is LIFE. Jesus lived for us, and yes, He died for us as well- but the key here is that He lived for us. He lived for His Father, and He lived the life that His Father wanted Him to. He was obedient to His Father’s will. He truly gave His life. The apostles clearly gave their lives, not in death, but in life. They were obedient to the Father, they were obedient to the Son. They gave their lives to Jesus.
If we have given our life to Him, if we have “laid down our life” to Him, then we owe him our life, not just a few hours a week. Conversion to Christianity is a change in lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle, not just a religion. Paul paints a picture to the converts from paganism, the Gentiles in Galatia the lifestyle change that should be brought about by Christianity: He does not in any of these verses talk about this being a once-a-week thing. He talks about completely “putting off” the old man. This is a lifestyle change, not a once a week change. We understand that it may be difficult, if being Christian was incredibly easy, everyone would be one. It’s not, though. It’s a lifestyle that requires us to “lay down our life,” or “Commit our life,” or “Purpose our life.” We give our life, as Jesus gave his life. Not in death, but in life.
As we conclude, “laying down your life” is not ending it, it is giving your life, or committing your life, or ordaining your life but rooted in Christ for He is the vine and we are the branches. We give our life to another, we give it to our friend and savior, Jesus, who gave us His. We give our life to the Father, to be obedient to His Will, to follow the example Jesus left us. Following that example requires us to do it completely. Just as Jesus did. He took His commitment with Him to the cross, as did many of His disciples. But this is possible only when we abide in His love. Amen
“Your life may be the only Bible some people will ever see”.
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