Jesus as the Third Person in our Relationships

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

(Luke 24:30)

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them,"
Matthew 18:20

Spiritual Friendship by St. Aelred of
Book One on Spiritual Friendship
"You and I are here, and I hope that Christ is between us as a third."

As I began to read the passage written by St. Aelred, it put me in mind of the two friends, who were breaking bread with Jesus, after His Resurrection, and did not realize it was Him!

This is wonderful advise for any duo living in the world; living in the world in a way that God had intended; being IN the world but not OF the world, is the secret key that opens the door, to allowing our friendships toward one another, to have Christ at the center. When we are with our beloved friends, whether we realize it or not Jesus is right there with us. If only we could see Him in the moments of temptation, when we become obsessed with the world and at odds with our Holy Mother Church. Our Church offers us the Sacraments! She offers us Reconciliation, Eucharist, Annointing of the Sick. For some of us who are blessed to be called to Holy Orders, Marriage. All these are after the Sacraments of Initiation of Baptism and Confirmation.

In the LGBTQ+ community to KNOW because Scripture teaches us this, that Jesus is also there with us, through the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Spirit that He would bring to us, so that we would know we are not alone, is just so comforting! Jesus is always with us. Imagine this if you can, even just for a moment, that while you sit with your special one; your companion whom God has set for you to love and be loved, in a way that is pure of mind, body and spirit, that Jesus is there with you. Would you be comfortable? Would you be resistant? Or would you know the truth, that it is He, the Source of All Love, Jesus, that is between you and your companion.

Now that you and I know this truth, what will we do? Putting things in the right order of affection so that we may be a part of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ:

1. To love God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with  all your mind.

2. To love your neighbor as yourself. 

Living in the world is not easy. We are surrounded by others, including ourselves that seem to rebel against this on a moment to moment basis, especially me. But it is something to strive for, so that you can see your companion, sexual identity, orientation, gender identity in a way that our Lord has designed for you. It is a mystery right now, but because God is love, He will not keep you in the dark for long. Just do as He asks of you and allow Him to arrange things in the place that He sees fit. All will be well, if you go to Confession, Mass and get blessed. This is the best thing for ALL of us to do. Get rid of the boxes that separates us from God and each other. Get to know yourself if you must through the boxes. I had to do this, and it was extremely difficult. Or you can just reject anything that this soulless world wants to call you, and just know that you belong to Him!