COMMUNITY OF FRIENDSHIP
Jesus shares with his disciples his last moments before going back to the mystery of the Father. The story from John carefully recovers the testimony that Jesus wants to leave engraved in their hearts forever: «I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you».
John the Evangelist has his gaze focused on the Christian community. He isn’t thinking about those outside. When Jesus is gone, in their community they will need to love one another as «friends», because that’s how Jesus has loved them: «You are my friends»; «now I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends». Jesus’ community will be a community of friendship.
This image of the Christian community as «community of friends» ended up quickly being forgotten. For many centuries, Christians have seen themselves as a «family», where some are «fathers» (the pope, bishops, priests, abbots…); others are faithful «children», and all should live as «brothers and sisters».
Understanding the Christian community like that promoted fraternity, but has its dangers. In the «Christian family» we tend to emphasize the place each one holds. We point out what makes us different, not what unites us; much importance is given to authority, order, unity, subordination. And we run the risk of promoting dependence, infantilism, and the irresponsibility of the masses.
A community based on «Christian friendship» would enrich and transform Jesus’ Church today. Friendship promotes what unites us, not what makes us different. Among friends equality, reciprocity, and mutual support is cultivated, No one is above anyone else. No friend is superior to another. They respect their differences, but take care of their closeness and relationship.
Among friends it’s easier to feel oneself responsible and to collaborate. And it’s not so hard to be open to strangers and those who are different, those who need welcome and friendship. From a community of friends, it’s hard to just up and leave. From a cold, routine and indifferent community, people go away, and those who stay hardly feel anything when they do.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
