Jn 15:9-11
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love! You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you all this, that my own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.
REFLECTION
True friendship springs from the heart, the seat of love. “Thanks to their friendship, and the role of their hearts, the Twelve at least substantially understood and began to learn more of who Christ really was … There are learned individuals who know many details of Christ, and simple people who don’t know these details, but they know Christ in his truth: ‘The heart speaks to the heart.’ And Paul essentially says that he knows Jesus in this way, with the heart, and that he knows essentially the person in his truth; and then afterward, he knows the details.” (Benedict VI)
There was a student who seeks for wisdom. The rabbi gave him a glass to be filled with water and asked him to keep pouring in. He said, “Rabbi, the glass is full.” The rabbi retorted, “To be wise, first you must empty yourself.” The word complete comes from completus, big enough to fill. Perfect and complete joy can only be found in God. But first, we have to empty ourselves of vainglory and sinfulness, before we can speak “heart to heart” with Jesus and establish a loving friendship with him. To be happy, fill your heart with God.
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