"I have called you friends" (Jn 15:15). Fr. Julián Carrón's greeting at the beginning of the Paschal Triduum of GS

Dear friends,
How moving that Jesus calls us friends.
What does this mean?
A friend is someone who loves my life, my fulfillment, the fullness of my life.
It’s this fullness that I want, that I’ve secretly awaited for from the moment the desire
for happiness first sparked within me.
However, even though this is such a burning desire–cried out by every fiber of our
being–it’s such a struggle to be true to it in daily life! In fact, sometimes it even feels
like it’s against us, because it’s so piercing. Other times we ask ourselves if we
wouldn’t be better off if it were less insistent.
We all know from experience that it’s not easy to find someone who lives at the
height of his or her desire.
In the same way, we know that without the presence of a great friend, we’d quickly
give in to life’s pressing challenges.
This is where the meaning of friendship with Jesus becomes clear.
Without a friend like Jesus, who accompanies and sustains us, it would be almost
impossible not to throw in the towel. So then, we can understand the truth of His
words, “Without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5), and so say to Him, “Without
You, we can do nothing.”
It’s His embrace that saves us. With Him beside us, life is different, more full.
Think of how the disciples must have felt He was a friend, to be able to respond to
Him, as Peter did, “Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of
eternal life” (Jn 6:68); You alone have the words that fill our lives.
In this Holy Year of Mercy, and in these days of His passion, death and resurrection,
I hope that the question that rose in the hearts of those touched by His friendly gaze
will become ever more yours: Who are you, Christ; who are you without Whom we
cannot live, once we have encountered You?
Happy Easter!
Your friend Julián