Yesterday we said that God shows no partiality. You may wonder, is that really true? Didn't Jesus have His favourite friends and disciples? The first ones who come to our minds could be Jesus' friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. As Jesus was also a human being bound by time and space, He could not be there for many people at the same time during His short three years of public ministry. He needed to focus and grow some deeper relationships rather than being everything for everyone. Apparently, time spent on selected relationships would nurture closer friendships.

Speaking of the concept of BELOVEDNESS yesterday, one prime example of Jesus' beloved disciple was John. What made John "attractive" to Jesus? Why not Peter, whom Jesus chose to be the leader of the Twelve? Indeed, Peter, James and John were all closer to Jesus than the other Apostles. They could all be called beloved disciples of Jesus. But John was special…

"Belovedness" is mutual in nature. It is not that Jesus preferentially chose John to be His beloved and so treated John with favouritism. That would be against the nature of God. The difference lies in how we approach this greatest lover of all time, Jesus!

When Jesus was deeply troubled at the Last Supper (John 13:21), John was at His side…

As John stayed close to Jesus’ Heart, he knew what Jesus needed and so he stayed close to Jesus through His Passion. He followed Jesus closely to His Cross, where he stayed also close to Mother Mary. With John’s gift to Jesus by remaining close to Him and the one Jesus loved most, His mother, Jesus also gave John the best gift…

Through his desire to be close to Jesus and to stay with Him, John was gradually tamed and he surrendered himself completely to Jesus for the rest of his life. That is why he was always described in the Gospel as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

We should be convinced by now that God shows no partiality, so when it is said that Jesus loves someone in particular, the only reason is that the person is willing to be loved and engaged in an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus reacts to our response to His invitation for love!

REFLECTION

As John was so close to Jesus, he could ask Jesus questions and get answers from Him directly, just as Jesus disclosed Judas' betrayal first to John. Does this reveal to you the secret of hearing God"s voice more easily? Would this new understanding change how you would relate to God?

As you have heard the reason behind the belovedness of John in Jesus' eyes, what is the Spirit"s invitation to you moving forward?

TODAY'S PRAYER

I ask this in Your holy name. Amen!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Song: 《Fall in love》by AMDG
Music / Artist: Vansie@AMDG
Lyrics: Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. (1907-1991)
Piano: R Hayashi@Jumping Notes

Lyrics:
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love in an absolute and final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed,
what you do with your evenings,
What you read, what you sing,
whom you know, whom you serve,
What breaks your heart,
What soothes your pain
How you will spend your Saturdays
Where you will go on Christmas Day
What fills your heart with joy
What fills your heart with thanks
Let’s fall in Love,
Let’s stay in love,
It will decide everything.

Copyright © Vansie Kwok, 2014, All Rights Reserved

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