A kind mouth multiplies friends and appeases enemies,
and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings.
Let your acquaintances be many,
but one in a thousand your confidant.
When you gain a friend, first test him,
and be not too ready to trust him.
For one sort is a friend when it suits him,
but he will not be with you in time of distress.
Another is a friend who becomes an enemy,
and tells of the quarrel to your shame.
Another is a friend, a boon companion,
who will not be with you when sorrow comes.
When things go well, he is your other self,
and lords it over your servants;
But if you are brought low, he turns against you
and avoids meeting you.
Keep away from your enemies;
be on your guard with your friends.
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.
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. Sir 6:5-17
The author of Sirach teaches us a great lesson on friendship today. Friendship is difficult for some and easy for others, but ultimately it is about the friendship we develop with God. Many people will influence us but God should influence us the most. What a difficult task, to speak and listen to someone who is not physically present. We must learn to be still, spend time in silence, listen to our heart, and read the Scriptures. Prayer is us talking to God, the Scriptures is God talking to us.
-Fr. Zach Friends can build us up or bring us down. We can be guilty by association (this is important if we decide to hang out with people breaking the law). It is my hope that people find their best friend and marry them. As the author of Sirach mentions today, friendship is about discerning not based on popularity but through great trials of adversity. When we are young, we just want to fit in and be part of a friendship group. This can lead us to being fake and acting or changing who we are to fit in with each group of people we are trying to fit in with. This is exhausting. We must first learn who we are, who God made us to be, and go through many trials with friends to find true friends. The beauty of Christianity is we have God who became a Man to always have our back and be our best friend. He is always faithful, loves us more than we love ourselves, knows what is best for us, and carries us in our suffering. This is difficult to accept when we are growing up and discerning who are real friends are. It is a process. Be yourself and keep searching for a true friend using the wisdom of the author of Sirach today:
“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.
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.”
Today’s challenge: Get outside your friendship groups and introduce yourself to someone new. Invite others into your friendship groups. Overcome the fear of losing a friend because you reach out to others. Imagine if this is how God dealt with us. Get out of your comfort zone!
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
Recent Comments