In his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said Christians' destiny is living in friendship with Christ, who is patient even with those who turn away from him.
POPE FRANCIS
“He doesn't rescind this gift, He doesn't disown us, He waits for us until the end. And when we, out of our weakness, turn away from Him, He waits, He waits, He keeps saying: 'Friend, I await you. Friend, what do you want? Friend, why do you betray me with a kiss.' He is loyal in friendship.”
Thus, the pope said Christians' vocation is maintaining this friendship, and they must ask God for the grace of remaining in His love.
EXCERPTS FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Media)
Many times, however, the Pope explained, we are not so faithful and distance ourselves from Him 'with our sins, with our whims' but Jesus is “faithful to His friendship.'
In the day’s Gospel, he said, Jesus no longer calls us 'servants' but 'friends' and keeps His word until the end because He is faithful. The last word to Judas before his betrayal, the Pope recalled, was 'friend' and not “get out.”
The Pope recalled the election of Matthias in the Acts of the Apostles where he was chosen by lots to be a “witness of the Resurrection', 'a witness of this gift of love' of Jesus who shares with His friends the secrets revealed to Him by the Father.
Even those who distance themselves from Him, the Pope said, Jesus always awaits, faithful to his friendship. The Pope thus urged Christians to ask Jesus for the grace to remain in His love, in his friendship.
