WHO IS A FRIEND?

HOMILY OF FRIDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

FEAST OF ST MATTHIAS, APOSTLE

Acts 1;15-17.20-26,John 15:9-17.

THEME: WHO IS A FRIEND?

A friend is not only the one who stands by you while you are there. He is the one who stands for your shared values when you are gone. A friend is not your benefactor, but the one you give the honour to share in your space irrespective of his dark sides. We shall know our friends when we leave the office or when we are gone. Some people are in love with our position or what we can offer, and not they can offer our mission.

However, when a master brings the servants close so as to eat at the master’s table, the servants must not take such honour for granted. Ungrateful souls often take concessions as rights. Many have wasted the love which they do not merit.

The Lord Jesus said, “You did not choose me, I chose you.” John 15:16. We oftentimes do not merit what we enjoy.  We are not qualified to be called friends, but God gave us the special privilege. “No Longer do I call you servants, for the servant does  not know what his master is doing: but I call I have called friends; for all that I have heard from my father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

We must not think that the person who entrusts his life or estate to us do not know us. We may enjoy hiding our true identity from them and be perpetrating evil. The truth remains, every love we waste must surely bite back.

Judas was a disciple of Christ. He was Jesus’ friend. He enjoyed a great privilege from the master’s administration. Thinking that Jesus did not know what he was capable of, he was busy eating into the common purse until he finally sold his master. However, his tragic end opened the door for another person; Matthias.

“For it is written in the book of psalms, ‘Let his habitation become desolate and let there be no one to live in it; and ‘his office let another take.” Acts 1:20

The mission of Christ must continue. The number of his chosen friends must not be down even by one. Hence, Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas.

May God help us to be true friends to one another. May nothing of us rid us of his esteemed loving relationship, through Christ our Lord. Amen.