today's other readings are Acts 15: 22-31 and Psalm 57
What is your image of God? Since Day One humanity has grappled with the question as to who God is. In ancient times it was widely accepted that God was the source of weather and fertility, and religion was about appeasing God so to ensure God's blessings and favour and protection. The prophets of the Old Testament then presented God as one who was also intimately involved in the story of Israel. God was Creator, covenant maker, lawgiver and guide for His people. God was also beyond human control and therefore One to be obeyed and worshiped.
And then came Jesus. Particularly in John's gospel, as the Word made flesh, Jesus spoke of God with a term that infuriated the religious authorities. For God was Abba (Father). This image of an intimate relationship with the Father and his preaching of God's unconditional love and unlimited mercy was seen as a threat to their roles as faith leaders.
In a way, one must be glad that those Jewish religious leaders were not present to hear what Jesus said in today's gospel, since these words were only heard by the apostles present at the Last Supper. For when Jesus, as the Son of God, speaks of the apostles, and subsequently us, as His friends, well, that would have been too much the fragile minds of the Pharisees and the chief priests. For think what it means to be called a friend. It implies so much.
Do you think of Jesus as your friend? What does that mean to you?
I view Jesus as my friend. And I can ponder this from many angles. One angle is based on a definition of friendship that I heard some time ago: "A friend is someone who comes into your life when everyone else is leaving you." For me, Jesus came into my life on my first day - and He has never left me. Which brings to mind the title of a glorious old hymn, What a friend we have in Jesus.