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[Jesus
prayed:] "I revealed your name to those whom you gave
me out of the world. They belonged to
you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now
they know that everything you gave me is
from you because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and
they
accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have
believed
that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the
world but for the ones you
have given me, because they are yours, and everything of yours is mine,
and I
have been glorified in them. And now I
will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am
coming to
you. Holy Father, keep them in your name
that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we
are. When I was with them I protected them in your
name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost
except the
son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be
fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the
world so that they may
share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated
them,
because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the
world."
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The
entire movie "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" centers
on
the spirits and characters of two men, Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr.
Stephen Maturin. Captain Aubrey is the realist, the man of
action, a strong and fair leader of men, a brilliant strategist, a man
who can think outside the envelope which indeed allows for the final
victory in the movie. Dr. Maturin is more intellectual and
pensive, cool under
pressure, even to the point of being able to perform surgery on
himself. His passion is biology, and his desire is to discover
other species unknown to science. But most of all, Captain Aubrey
and Dr. Maturin are friends, friends who have come through difficult
times together, and consequently are willing to give up personal
goals so
that the other man can achieve what he wants.
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We do not seek
out difficult times. Especially if
two or more of us have the opportunity to choose what will happen to us
as a group, we will generally not choose something that is full of
problems. But if we manage to suffer through the hard times that
happen, even if we did not plan them, something happens with the bond
of
friendship. It becomes stronger, and we find ourselves ready even
to give up some personal wants or needs in order to help the other.
It is then that true friendship is born.
Most of the Apostles were not friends to start with. We know that some of them had individual friendships, but even during the time that they spent with Jesus, their friendship was more a convenient one than anything else. Then persecution happened. "The world hated them," is the way Jesus prayed according to John the evangelist. That persecution began during Jesus' lifetime, but it was even more apparent after Jesus ascended into heaven. Only then, one would guess, did the friendship between the Apostles strengthen. Difficult times cemented their friendships. Some of us have had to suffer troublesome things together, but most of us probably have not experienced such turmoil yet. Whatever the case, if we claim to be friends with another, as Captain Aubrey and Dr. Maturin, as the Apostles of Jesus, we will be ready to face difficult times, and a true friend will be present to the other when those times come. |
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THOUGHT
As you study the friendships
that you have with others, what are some things about your
relationship that you could improve?
PRAYER Good
and
gracious
God, your Son chose Apostles to help with your plan of
establishing the Kingdom of heaven on earth. They became his
friends, but they also became friends with each other, each willing to
help each other as they suffered persecution. Help us learn the
meaning of friendship. Be with us, we pray.
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©2007 Capuchin
Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
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