The Gospel passage is proclaimed within the context that we did not chose God but rather God chose us.

The purpose of this choice is joy, to be loved and to be His friends.

The true disciple is a person whose joy is complete. No matter what particular talent or gift you have been given, if it isn’t accompanied by joy then it will not ignite other human hearts. Joy is the first charism of the Christian and radiates more brightly in darkened times.

true disciple is a person who defines love by his life. “No one can show greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ For the Christian then, love extends even to enemies and so we must work to love even those who despise us.

Finally, Jesus chose us to be His friends. No longer is God a distant God. We are no longer slaves. Jesus gave us an intimacy with God, so that He is no longer a stranger, but very close, in fact as close to us as our heart.

If we truly believe in the power of our baptism we will live out the call of Christ to complete our joy, extend our love and define our friendship, ‘because love is of God; (and) everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God…not that we have loved God, but that he loved us…’

My dear friends, if you find yourselves struggling with this Gospel ask yourself, have I loved God enough? If the answer is no, then love Him more!