Jesus speaks to us, his desire to be with us, that we grow in his friendship. For
friendship to develop, we find common ground, our likes and dislikes, willingness to
spend our time energy for the one we love. Jesus called us friends; if you are my
friends, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Jesus gives us his own life as
a model for a life grounded in love, after the love and unity between Father and Son.
The power of Jesus’ love is that he gave up his life for us whom he called friends, that
we may have forgiveness of sins and new life. The one commandment of Jesus, his
way, is about forgiving, merciful and healing love that we are called to offer to the world.
How much the world needs life changing touch of true love? Unable to experience true
love leads to all chaos in life! Jesus says, ‘be assured that I love you; even if no one
loves you, my love lives in you and because of that, you will live. If you remain in my
love, you can shame all who hate you; you can prove wrong all who underestimate your
worth, the beauty of your inner self that you are created in the image of God’.
Some fifty years ago John Hopkins, a sociology professor assigned his class an
unusual project. He asked the students to interview 200 boys from the Baltimore slums
and find out what their lives were really like and then to write papers predicting their
chances for the future. The students were shocked at the results. They guessed that 90
percent of these slum boys would some day serve time in prison. 25 years later another
professor, cleaning out old files came across these papers. He asked his students to
find out how the predictions had turned out. The students located 180 out of the 200.
Only four of them had ever been in jail. To find out what had happened, the students
interviewed as many of the men as they could and a strange thing was discovered.
They said: well, there was this teacher.. I had a teacher once; this Miss O’ Rourke I had
in high school. Most of them mentioned a certain teacher who had helped and inspired
each of these men in some way. After a long search, the students found Miss O’
Rourke, by now retired, living in a nursing home. They told her about the results of their
research. Miss O’ Rourke could not tell them what it was she had done that influenced
their lives. She just smiled and recalled her many boys. All I can say, she said, is that I
loved them all! Love is the true miracle in the world.
The inner power in us to love is the Holy Spirit. Jesus says I will send you the Holy
Spirit, to guide you and give you strength to face a hostile world, to transform it with
love. In our confirmation we received the Spirit, promised to show the world how we live
our faith. Our homes, culture, education, quality of friendship, all influence the way we
live our faith. Be open to the spirit of love that Jesus gave us and let him help us touch
people’s life with love. O Spirit, Blessing for the heart grown weary, encircle me with
your loving energy, empower me with your gentleness. Deepen within me a faith in your
power which strengthens the weak and the tired. Help me always revere Christ in my
heart!