May 6, 2025 Written by 

Mysticism of Friendship

(Jn 15:9-17)

 

Jesus has just used the image of the 'vineyard' to configure the character of the new people and the 'circulation of life' with those who believe in Him. 

The allegory of the vine and the branches is now translated into existential terms.

The propagation of divine dynamism in us initiates a current and communication of love. Movement of authentic love: which Comes.

It is an uninterrupted Flow of resemblances of the divine condition.

Transparent Syntony with generative value, brought by the Son: «as» and «for the reason that» [I have loved you] (v.12 Greek text).

The Lord does not ask to “be loved” [from ourselves, we would not be trustworthy], but to 'receive' God's way - the Gift that descends from the Father and from Him.

The Joy that springs forth from this will not be one of euphoria or exaltation: it is the fruit of an awareness that combines the divine proposal of 'non-possessive resemblance' with our capacity to make space within.

And in that gap, meeting our deepest sides - not detaching ourselves from the Core, to become external.

 

Abiding in the Father-Son circulation of love, we are enveloped by a personal Happiness.

It intuits the meaning and uniqueness of our 'seed' and effortlessly changes the way we see life, suffering, relationships, and Joy.

«Greater love hath no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends» (v.13).

Difference between religiosity and Faith? Friendship, which is stronger than both cerebral alchemy and voluntarism.

The Friend shares intentions, cultivates communion of life.

The «servant» (v.15) remains untrustworthy and resentful, because he is a mere executor of others' orders - which do not concern the irreducible hidden 'roots', the Source from which the heart draws and which belongs to him (v.16).

So the trustworthy Friend is glad not only when he fulfils himself, but also when he can expand and brighten the life of his beloved. He willingly ousts himself from the first seat in favour of the beloved.

 

Jn does not speak of love of enemies as Mt 5 does in the Sermon on the Mount, but insists on mutual love [inner community of believers] as a relationship with the divine life itself.

Here we see a particular concern for individuals and the climate between friends of Faith, who must first themselves overthrow positions of privilege - and embody the spirit of selflessness and truth that they preach to others.

In this way, the Lord does not ask us for “fruits” [multiple external works, often tinged with exhibitionism] but for 'one' single work: Love without duplicity, qualms, forcing, dissociation.

 

In the unique and unprecedented personalisation of the «Fruit» (v.16), Christ does not remain a Model to be imitated, but a real Life that continues in us.

Unique tiger in the engine; inviting and accommodating within the mystery of the founding Eros, which dilates the I into the Thou:

In Friendship, in the opposing feelings that surface, in the growing unity of thought and aspiration; in the people everyone approaches, in the communion of desire and circumstance... the wills unite.

In such divine-human Empathy [more persuasive than voluntarism] the codes of conduct, or the extrinsic, conditioned project, to which they (first) bow, now weave a dialogue; finally they make team - by Name.

Here is the kindling and pouring out of Communion, on a high ground of understanding; without concealed conflicts. With a broad mind, which overcomes the obsession of discomforts and comparisons.

With amniotic mind, capable of giving birth to novelty without servitude.

 

In short, in the Ideal as in the Dream we prefer Friendship.

And we walk the Way of Faith in the Crucified One - that of the authentic and happy «Fruit»: of the 'snub and imbalance of love'.

 

 

[St Matthias, May 14]

658 Last modified on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 12:01
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Divisions among Christians, while they wound the Church, wound Christ; and divided, we cause a wound to Christ: the Church is indeed the body of which Christ is the Head (Pope Francis)
Le divisioni tra i cristiani, mentre feriscono la Chiesa, feriscono Cristo, e noi divisi provochiamo una ferita a Cristo: la Chiesa infatti è il corpo di cui Cristo è capo (Papa Francesco)
The glorification that Jesus asks for himself as High Priest, is the entry into full obedience to the Father, an obedience that leads to his fullest filial condition [Pope Benedict]
La glorificazione che Gesù chiede per se stesso, quale Sommo Sacerdote, è l'ingresso nella piena obbedienza al Padre, un'obbedienza che lo conduce alla sua più piena condizione filiale [Papa Benedetto]
All this helps us not to let our guard down before the depths of iniquity, before the mockery of the wicked. In these situations of weariness, the Lord says to us: “Have courage! I have overcome the world!” (Jn 16:33). The word of God gives us strength [Pope Francis]
Tutto questo aiuta a non farsi cadere le braccia davanti allo spessore dell’iniquità, davanti allo scherno dei malvagi. La parola del Signore per queste situazioni di stanchezza è: «Abbiate coraggio, io ho vinto il mondo!» (Gv 16,33). E questa parola ci darà forza [Papa Francesco]
The Ascension does not point to Jesus’ absence, but tells us that he is alive in our midst in a new way. He is no longer in a specific place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the lordship of God, present in every space and time, close to each one of us. In our life we are never alone (Pope Francis)
L’Ascensione non indica l’assenza di Gesù, ma ci dice che Egli è vivo in mezzo a noi in modo nuovo; non è più in un preciso posto del mondo come lo era prima dell’Ascensione; ora è nella signoria di Dio, presente in ogni spazio e tempo, vicino ad ognuno di noi. Nella nostra vita non siamo mai soli (Papa Francesco)
The Magnificat is the hymn of praise which rises from humanity redeemed by divine mercy, it rises from all the People of God; at the same time, it is a hymn that denounces the illusion of those who think they are lords of history and masters of their own destiny (Pope Benedict)
Il Magnificat è il canto di lode che sale dall’umanità redenta dalla divina misericordia, sale da tutto il popolo di Dio; in pari tempo è l’inno che denuncia l’illusione di coloro che si credono signori della storia e arbitri del loro destino (Papa Benedetto)
This unknown “thing” is the true “hope” which drives us, and at the same time the fact that it is unknown is the cause of all forms of despair and also of all efforts, whether positive or destructive, directed towards worldly authenticity and human authenticity (Spe Salvi n.12)
Questa « cosa » ignota è la vera « speranza » che ci spinge e il suo essere ignota è, al contempo, la causa di tutte le disperazioni come pure di tutti gli slanci positivi o distruttivi verso il mondo autentico e l'autentico uomo (Spe Salvi n.12)
«When the servant of God is troubled, as it happens, by something, he must get up immediately to pray, and persevere before the Supreme Father until he restores to him the joy of his salvation. Because if it remains in sadness, that Babylonian evil will grow and, in the end, will generate in the heart an indelible rust, if it is not removed with tears» (St Francis of Assisi, FS 709)

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