Speaking about slavery is considered a hot-button issue given the complex global history that we all know about. Without implying in any way that slavery is morally right under any circumstances, the fact of the matter is that slavery has been practiced in many human societies around the world. It is a sad part of human history around the world and a reality of human brokenness.
Clarifying Our Relationship to Jesus
In our gospel today, the Lord uses the relational dynamic between a slave and a master to clarify our relationship to him. He says that I have called you my friends not my slaves! The relationship between friends is different from the relationship between a slave and their master. A master-slave relationship is driven by control, objectification, and exploitation. The slave performs service out of fear of punishment, and out of mere duty or obligation. On the other hand, the relationship between friends is driven by love and deep concern for the other. The Lord does not want us to serve him out of duty or obligation, rather he wants us to serve him because there is mutual love and appreciation between him and us.
Humanly speaking, true friends are people who have seen each other at their worst, or at their lowest, yet stuck with each other. They didn’t run away! If you have a friend who has only seen you on your best days, that friendship still needs purification. It is on our worst days that we can tell who our best friends are. If you have people in life who stick with you through the worst seasons of life, those are important to value and to keep!
Jesus Chooses Us
Jesus has seen humanity at its worst! Through His the arrest, torture, and eventual murder, the Lord has seen humanity at its worst, morally speaking. Yet he says he still loves us anyway! Addressing each one of us by name, he says “I have chosen you Jeff to be my friend. I have chosen you Godfrey to be my friend. I have chosen you Sarah to be part of my inner circle. I have chosen you John to be close to me.” He has seen it all about us but has chosen us as friends anyway. It is out of appreciation of His love and care for us and not fear, that He desires us to relate to Him and to serve Him.
Today we can ask ourselves: How is our relationship with the Lord? Is it a relationship built on love and appreciation or one built on love?
May His grace open our hearts to answer love with love. May His deep care for each one of us move us to care for the things and the people He cares about. May His friendship teach us what it means to be authentic friends to others. Amen.
- Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
