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February 8

Friendship with God

We must never reduce our relationship with God to a glib

familiarity or an estranged distance. God is sovereign and Lord of our lives. But God can also be the great friend.

It is possible to think of God in images of distance. This is particularly so when we use the language of distance: omnipotent, sovereign, all

powerful. But there is also another language that we are invited to use. This speaks of intimacy and closeness: lover, healer, redeemer, friend.

Clearly both forms of language are appropriate. It usually depends on the way and the circumstances in which we seek to approach God. Being in a certain phase in our spiritual journey means that we will think of God in certain ways and use language accordingly.

St. Thomas Aquinas points out that “Charity signifies not only the love of God, but also a certain friendship with him.”39 And so it is. For if the love of God is in us, then the Great Lover is hauntingly close. If grace is given, then the Great Giver is at hand. If healing comes our way, then the healing presence of God is within and around us. The presence of love in the relationship of friendship with this awesome God means that we may call God “Father” and “Friend.”

The worship of God, while recognizing God as wholly Other, is also worship in the joy of friendship. The God of the Bible is hauntingly close, is the unceasing lover and the faithful friend.

Thought

God is so close. God is within us through the Spirit. God is always closer than we think or feel.