Jesus values friendship

Have you ever wondered why Jesus would always take three of His Apostles along with Him to some important events during His public ministry?

In the Transfiguration, Matthew noted that "after six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light" (Mt 17: 1-9).

In raising the daughter of Jairus, Luke has this account: "When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother (Lk 8:51).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew again tells us: "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James, John ) along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me" (Mt 26:36).

Among His 12 Apostles, Jesus has three circle of friends with whom He shared moments of glory (Transfiguration), of sorrow (Gethsemane) and of joy (important miracles): PETER, JAMES & JOHN.

Besides, among the three "best friends", Jesus has a special friend, whom the Evangelist John called "the Beloved Disciple" or "the disciple that Jesus loved". In fact, in John's account of the Last Supper, the Evangelist made mention of the Beloved Disciple "reclining on Jesus' bosom".

"There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, "Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking." He, leaning back thus on Jesus' bosom, said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" (John 13:23-25). (See photo above).

What does it tell us?

It's telling us that friendship forms an essential part in the life of Jesus. Being truly human and being like us in all things except sin, Jesus must have also enjoyed the friendship of His disciples.

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you" (Jn 15:15).

It also means that in following the Lord friendship is an essential element. Discipleship is nothing else but "being friends with Jesus". And for those who are following the Lord in the priesthood, friendship also plays an important role as it is an essential element of the priestly ministry.

Making friends with co-seminarians and formators is an essential element of seminary formation, just as Jesus (The Ultimate Formator) was a friend to all His disciples and the disciples (the formandi) were friends among themselves.

Jesus also sees in friendship an opportunity to do apostolate. When He brought His circle of friends to witness some important events in His life, He was not just trying to appear "agreeable" and "likable" to them (like one who invites his newly-found barkadas out to drinks, coffee, movies, dinner, KTV, etc. so they would admire him or think bad of him by misinterpreting his gestures...).

No. Jesus was trying to teach them something...to make them know and understand Him, His message, His way of thinking. A kind of bonding, yes it was. But with a purpose: to make them think, talk and do things the way He does -- TO HELP THEM BECOME CHRIST-LIKE, for that is what it means to be His disciple. In a sense, it was part of their formation.

Of course, at first, they often did not understand Him. They mistook Him, His words, His gestures. Only after He was raised from the dead did they understand Him well. And the CIRCLE OF FRIENDS had contributed a lot to the whole group's understanding of WHO JESUS REALLY WAS, and of what He was really trying to teach them.

We can say, it was Jesus' strategy of forming His disciples. We can also say, it was His natural way of dealing with them as their formator -- Jesus, being truly human Himself.

For one who has been given the task of forming souls, nothing is wrong, I guess, with following the style of Jesus. Of course, not in an exaggerated way.

But just a piece of advice: IF YOU WISH TO FOLLOW JESUS' STYLE, BE SURE TO HAVE FIRST, JESUS' HEART. For the heart of Jesus treasures so much the value of friendship. And only through, with and in the heart of Jesus, true friendship can flourish.

Why afraid of LDPC?

Cogito

Published in Davao Catholic HERALD

April 20, 2008


When the Local Development Plan for Children (LDPC) was approved through a voting of 18-4-2 (YES, NO, abstained, respectively), the immediate reaction of almost every Catholic faithful present in the gallery of the Davao City Council session hall – especially those who understand deeply the implication of the said approval – was of utter fear and disturbance.
Despite the efforts of the main proponent of the plan, Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad assuring the Council that the plan does not promote contraception, every well-informed Catholic is aware that the plan is tainted with “contraceptive flavor” (borrowing the words of Councilor Tessie Mata-Marañon, who strongly opposes the plan).
Councilor Peter Laviña, one who voted NO, said the LDPC “appears innocent at first glance.” However, “a large portion of it deals with reproductive health issues continuously opposed by pro-lifers, family crusaders and the Catholic Church.”
Why afraid of LDPC? The fact that it is under the guise of “reproductive health” and “safe pregnancy” is one good reason to be afraid. But a bigger reason is that our Honorable Councilors are aware of it and they just closed their eyes and raised their hands to say YES to it!

* * *

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God; have faith also in me.”
Jesus’ words in this Sunday’s Gospel were my sole consolation as I walked out the session hall gnawing my tongue in disappointment. My irritation was fueled by the thought that some councilors whom I have voted last elections – to the best of their acting abilities – even made themselves appear to be against the plan. In the end, they were the first and the last to raise their hands.
What is there to be afraid of LDPC? Archbishop Capalla said it denigrates the virtue of chastity. I think he has a point. For even its proponent affirmed during the session: “We did not touch the issue on chastity (during the formulation of the principles), as it may not be sensitive to everybody.”
Well, to have a city councilor who is the head of the committee on women and children to say that is one big reason enough to “let our hearts be troubled”. I, for one, am disturbed by the idea that the issue on chastity “may not be sensitive to everybody”. To whom should this issue be sensitive? To the Church alone? To the parents alone?
The issue on chastity and how this virtue should be taught to our young is everybody’s concern. If the LDPC has to be integral and authentic, it has to consider teaching our children and youth the said virtue. Chastity-based education is what our children need, rather than education on the use of contraceptives.

* * *

“Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Thomas asked Jesus.
How can we know the way towards the authentic and integral development of our children in Davao City? I don’t think this was the prevailing spirit last Tuesday in the session hall.
True. Councilor Mahipus had raised concern about the second Pastoral Statement of Archbishop Capalla but only to let Councilor Librado-Trinidad answer each of the five objections of the archbishop in a literal manner, by saying that “the objections are nowhere to be found explicitly in the plan”.
But then, when Councilor Marañon wished to present as an amendment the separation or the rejection of the “contraceptive flavor” from the plan, almost everyone was groping for a way out. And the house rules are the most convenient way.

* * *

Jesus answered: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Jesus offers us “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Yet, instead of admitting to ourselves that “we do not know the way; how can we know the way?” we look for our own way, we create our own truth and we make a living out of it.
The way to real and authentic children development is when they are taught the truth about themselves. For only in that truth can they live a life to the full.
But how could we educate these children on the truth about themselves if by giving them “full access to affordable services and accurate information that will promote safe pregnancies and produce and nurture healthy babies” (LDPC, Chap 2, sec. b), we are actually reinforcing in them the fallacy that their sexual urges cannot be controlled.
In giving them “full access to affordable services and accurate information” regarding contraceptives, we are actually telling our children that you cannot control yourselves; hence, use condoms and pills. And still we ask: Why afraid of LDPC?
Well, in the end, there’s nothing to be afraid of LDPC. For as the Good Book says, “People may plan all kinds of things but the Lord’s will is going to be done” (Proverbs 19:21).