Friar’s Corner: What a friend we have in Jesus

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ps 51:3-4, 12-15; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33

During these Lenten Sundays we have been looking at the Old Testament covenants between God and various key figures of his chosen people like Noah, Abraham, Moses and King David. We have been living in the final covenant Jesus made for us with his Father for almost two thousand years now. It took away our sins and brought us into God’s kingdom or family on earth. Jesus Christ became our Royal High Priest. He founded the Catholic Church flowing from the chosen people of Israel.

And Christ’s real presence among us is his renewed presence at Mass with the "multiplication of loaves" in the consecrated bread and wine to give us our "daily bread." Christ’s Mass, Christmas every day as he brings us more of himself to fill us with his divine power to go out into the world to change it. Jesus is such an awesome gift. Amen!

Getting to know Jesus

Our Lenten theme was getting to know Jesus better and get closer to him. In Psalm 51 today we ask God to wipe away our offenses, thoroughly wash us from our guilt and cleanse us of sin. We also ask for a clean heart and a steadfast spirit to follow Jesus more perfectly.

Toward the end of the gospel of St. John, some Greek-speaking Jews, who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast, went to Philip, wanting to meet Jesus. Philip went to Andrew and they both took the men to see Jesus. And he responds in a strange way. He said: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat fall to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat, but if it died, it produces much fruit."

'You are my friends'

Then Jesus speaks about his followers saying, "Where I am, there also will my servants be." So if we are his servants we must spent some daily time reading the gospels with the guidance of the Holy Spirit for our understanding. In John 15:14 Jesus further says something truly amazing, "You are my friends if you do what I tell you." Jesus said the slaves do not know what their master is about. Yet if we are Jesus friends we learn more of what who he is and what he is about doing in us.

As we read the gospels we see how much Jesus loves us, how he heals people even today. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you yet only say the word and I shall be healed. Jesus also feeds us on his own Body and Blood and he empowers us to go with him into our world to bring his love and light to those around us. This will make the world a better place to live.

Do we want to be together with Jesus to be empowered each day to make a difference out there? Do you want to be a friend of Jesus? I do. Let’s do it. Amen! Have a blessed week as friends of Jesus. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Blessings, friends,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2015 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)

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Nancy Ward

Nancy Ward writes about conversion, Christian community, and Catholicism. After earning a journalism degree, she worked for the Diocese of Dallas newspaper and the Archbishop Sheen Center for Evangelization, then began her own editing service. She’s a regular contributor to CatholicMom.com, SpiritualDirection.com, CatholicWritersGuild.com, NewEvangelizers.com and a contributing author to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Now, through her Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies workshops, retreats, book, and DVD, she shares her conversion story at Catholic parishes and conferences, equipping others to share their own stories.

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