God loves his creatures so much that He loves to spend time with them. He would come in the cool of the evening to speak with Adam and Eve as a friend would. Friendship grows when it is nourished by communication or communion. We know too well how friendship fades away when there is no communication.
But who we speak with matters. There are voices that come to lure the human person away from God. We hear that voice today in the Gospel tempting Jesus. That voice was also there in paradise to distract Adam and Eve from their communion and cherished friendship with Jesus. He succeeded. Adam and Eve lost the most cherished thing they ever had: God. Friendship with Him. Suffering began. Hardship started. The joy and thrill of life was gone.
Thanks to Jesus, the new Adam, who defeated the devil and has come to restore friendship and communion that man lost. In Jesus, we can become friends with God again.
The devil never tires of speaking to the human person. He tells us that we can find life’s meaning and joy in pleasure, power and prestige (wealth). But we know too well that these things don’t last. Only friendship with Jesus and the joy it brings endures.
A few days ago, I was invited to a young life event here in Penticton. I found young people who radiated joy. They had found something that lasts or rather they have found someone. It was amazing to see such pure joy. One of them gave a testimony: “Here I was introduced to Jesus. I never knew I could be so happy. I never knew I could even speak about Him before a crowd. My life has never been the same since I met Jesus.”
The president of the group shared with us that he came in contact with young life when he was 16. He was invited by a girl. He went initially because of the girl but it has been over 50 years and he hasn’t left. He said that the first night they gathered, he looked around and saw over one hundred kids on the floor listening to a talk about Jesus and they actually liked it. I was 16 he said and I heard about Jesus for the first time in my life.
I was deeply touched and happy to see that there are still many young people today who have found Jesus and are experiencing the beauty of friendship with Him. For them, Jesus alone suffices.
Teresa of Avila knew that friendship could offer her the thrill of life, everything that she had ever longed and hoped for. She said: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away: God never changes….whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.
Friendship with Jesus restores us to lost Paradise and renews us in our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God, destined for Paradise.
FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD THE HOMECOMING CELEBRATION IN OUR DIOCESE. LENT CAN BE A TIME OF HOMECOMING. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REVEAL TO YOU WHOM HE WANTS YOU TO INVITE TO MASS. PRAY BEFORE YOU INVITE THEM.