Jesus Chooses You

~~~ Saint Catherine of Siena ~~~ 
~~~ Virgin and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 15:22-31 ~~~ Psalm 57 ~~~
~~~ John 15:12-17 ~~~

I have called you friends...

We all have family, friends and acquaintances.
Jesus calls us his friends not his acquaintances.
He did not want just a casual relationship with you.
He wants a true friendship.

Jesus does not want you for a business companion.
He wants the intimacy of a friendship.

Jesus wants to be in your inner circle.
He wants to be one with whom you can tell
 your deepest desires and fears.

Jesus has chosen you to be one of his friends.
Will you chose him to be your BFF?
Does this influence how you view your
relationship with him?

Jesus cares more for you than your best friend.
He loves you more than any of your relatives.
Only you would treat him life and acquaintance.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you...

When Jesus chooses you it is not like a sorority
choosing someone following rush week. 

Jesus chose you before you had
 the presence of mind to reciprocate the offer.

In life we chose people to be our friends
 who share common interests.

Jesus invites us to
share in everything he values.

Jesus invites us to
share his own body and blood.
He has proved his friendship by laying
down his life for us.

We cannot just be an acquaintance
 of Jesus because he knows us too well.

An acquaintance is someone you do not know well.

If you think Jesus is just an acquaintance
read the Bible, learn as much as possible about him.

Look at who you call friend and reflect
on Jesus calling you friend.

Blessed to be called a friend of Jesus.
Pray to treat him as my best friend.

Be who you were created to be and you
 will set the earth on fire.
St. Catherine of Sienna, pray for us.
~~~Peace~~~

Best Friends...

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 15:22-31 ~~~ Psalm 57 ~~~

~~~ John 15:12-17 ~~~

I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything
 I have heard from my Father.

Throughout our life we have many acquaintances,
but out of those only a few are friends.

However you define friends it comes back
 to what you share together.

Friends share their everyday lives.
Friends share the secrets of the heart.
Friends share their hopes and dreams.
Friends share their fears and frustrations.
Friends share what matters most to them.
Friends share a mutual care and concern for each other.
Friends share their love for one another.

Jesus calls us his friends today.
He calls us friends because he has shared all of himself with us.
Jesus calls us friends because he has revealed
 the very essence of who he is to us.

Assuming you do have friends,
do you consider Jesus to be among them?

Do you share more with your girl friends, co-worker,
or neighbors than you do with Jesus.

How many times do you just take the time
to sit down and visit with a friend?

How many times do you take
the time to just spend time with Jesus?
Do you consider Jesus to be among those you call friend?

Friendship is a give and take encounter between human beings.
Jesus wants to have that kind of relationship with you.
Jesus goes out on a limb and calls you friend
even before he knows how you will respond.

Jesus calls you friend;
he never considers the possibility that you might reject him.

We are cautious about who we call our friend.
Jesus shared with us the inner most part of his life.
Jesus shared with us what the Father had shared with him.

Jesus is waiting ready to listen to your inner most being.
Friends do not reject or judge...
Friends support, encourage, and forgive.

Jesus taught us the true meaning of being a friend...
that is to love above all things.
Nothing else matters
 if you have the love of Jesus.

We can join in the chorus...
thank you for being a friend.

Next time you are sharing with a friend remember
this is exactly the kind of relationship
Jesus wants with you.

Cherish your friends;
 they represent the relationship Jesus
wants to have with you.

Treat Jesus as you would treat your best friend.
Blessed with best friends.
~~~Peace~~~