friend

Sirach 6:5-17; Ps 119 Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands; Mark 10:1-12

Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ.

Here is a recipe that is often neglected in our society.

Friendship is fallen to the wayside.  IT is tragic, for friendship is the one relationship that last into eternity.

We will not be married or marry in heaven, so says JEsus.  But he calls us friends on that faith filled night when he bends low and washes the feet of the disciples in the upper room then he goes out to love us to the end as portrayed in Calvary.

Making a friend, being a friend, bringing a friend to Christ is what it means to follow Christ, the one ultimate friend maker.

"a faithful friend is a life saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself."

Jesus and friend can be synonymous according to the last definition.  And if we are to follow Christ then we too must be in the business of making friends, being friends, and bringing friends to Him who we follow.

"a faithful friend is a sturdy shelter, he who finds one finds a treasure.  a faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth."

Who are your friends?  Who are you friends with?
Are they and are we a sturdy shelter, life giving remedy?

Interesting that the gospel is about divorce and the first reading is about friendship.

It often stated that demise of marriage as little to do with the lack of love but more with the loss of friendship.

When we look at friendship in our life, we should start with our spouse.  Make a friend, be a friend is a recipe for success in the gift of married love.