Companions in the Lord
24. New Friends in the Lord
In Paris Ignatius began again with his life’s task of winning people for Christ.
He began giving his Spiritual Exercises.
A particularly hard nut to crack was Francisco Xavier, a young student from Javier in Navarre, whose family had supported the French and Navarrese in the battle for Pamplona. Francisco was more interested in sport than religion. But with his patient work Ignatius eventually won him over and he became the most famous Jesuit missionary and saint ever.
A thought to ponder
To lay down your life for your friends may be best understood as to spend your life for your friends; being willing to do what is necessary for them, rather than by dying.
Remember that Jesus Christ has chosen you as his friend.
How do you want to respond to his choice?
Scripture for the Day
As a way of praying today’s Scripture we suggest Imaginative Contemplation.
John 15:12-17 NRSVACE
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
You did not choose me but I chose you.
And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Music for Today
This is my Will my one Command, sung by the choir of St Gregory the Great, Singapore, written by James Quinn SJ (Words as above in Scripture passage.)
Purchase “Praise for All Seasons” Hymn book by James Quinn SJ