GO SAINTS! Saints 20 Vikings 09
And da winner is da SAINTS standing in victory alone
Who Dat! Who Dat! So bad, bad, to the bone!
And da winner is da SAINTS standing in victory alone
Who Dat! Who Dat! So bad, bad, to the bone!
Ijournal entry 092214 #38. September, month of Our Lady of Sorrows. Friendship part II. GO SAINTS! Quotes by Abbess Eangyth, St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis De Sales, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and Fr. Peter John Cameron. "The Friendship of the Saints", article by Fr. Aloysius Roche. Article: "A Treasure beyond Compare", from the magazine: The Word among Us. Audio recording: "Fraternal Correction", by Msgr. Charles Pope
September, month of Our Lady of Sorrows
“Hail Mary, Mother of Sorrows, at the foot of the Cross, you witnessed your Son’s total giving of self to the Father. Strengthen those who wish to abandon all in His holy name.”
From the Holy Cross Directory of Devotional Prayers:
“Hail Mary, Mother of Sorrows, at the foot of the Cross, you witnessed your Son’s total giving of self to the Father. Strengthen those who wish to abandon all in His holy name.”
From the Holy Cross Directory of Devotional Prayers:
The Cheese & Crackers = Quotes by Abbess Eangyth, St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis De Sales, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and Fr. Peter John Cameron.
The Veggies = My 2 cents
The Potatoes = "The Friendship of the Saints", article by Fr. Aloysius Roche.
The Meat = Article: "A Treasure beyond Compare", from the magazine: The Word among Us.
The Dessert = Audio recording: "Fraternal Correction", by Msgr. Charles Pope
The Veggies = My 2 cents
The Potatoes = "The Friendship of the Saints", article by Fr. Aloysius Roche.
The Meat = Article: "A Treasure beyond Compare", from the magazine: The Word among Us.
The Dessert = Audio recording: "Fraternal Correction", by Msgr. Charles Pope
🍞🍞🍞
🔵 "A friend is long sought, scarcely found, and hard to keep”. By Abbess Eangyth
🔵 "A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends". St. John Chrysostom
🔵 "Men walking on level ground do not have to lend one another a hand, while those who are on a rugged, slippery road hold on to one anther in order to walk more safely". By St. Francis De Sales
🔴"Life has taught us that love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction". By Antoine de Saint-Exupery
🔴"The amazing friends I have: I didn’t “find” them; I certainly don’t deserve them; but I do have them. And there is only one feasible reason: because my friends are God’s gift to me in proof of His love for me, His friendship". By Fr. Peter John Cameron
🔵 "A friend is long sought, scarcely found, and hard to keep”. By Abbess Eangyth
🔵 "A friend is more to be longed for than the light; I speak of a genuine one. And wonder not: for it were better for us that the sun should be extinguished, than that we should be deprived of friends; better to live in darkness, than to be without friends". St. John Chrysostom
🔵 "Men walking on level ground do not have to lend one another a hand, while those who are on a rugged, slippery road hold on to one anther in order to walk more safely". By St. Francis De Sales
🔴"Life has taught us that love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction". By Antoine de Saint-Exupery
🔴"The amazing friends I have: I didn’t “find” them; I certainly don’t deserve them; but I do have them. And there is only one feasible reason: because my friends are God’s gift to me in proof of His love for me, His friendship". By Fr. Peter John Cameron
The Veggies
Someone, after engaging in the process of a bit of self introspection, sent me an email. In the spirit of friendship, my goal was to offer support and also prayers to God. We are the body of Christ and should stand in solidarity with each other in our time of need. Sharing here my response, in case something helpful might be gleaned. Feel free to critique, correct, and comment as you see fit. My Response: 🔗Praise The Lord, so glad to witness the right light shining bright, consequently it is leading you on to reach higher grounds. Keep up the good fight of faith. Preparing this response to your email have just resulted in a Ijournal veggie dish. Allaluia, using one stone, and two birds down. Nothing like putting frugality points on the board! 🔗Thank God when we realize the need to repentant. This is one state that should be our constant habitat. God's concern is not about the past for those who repent, He sees us as we will be become, and graces us accordingly. Halleluia for grace, glory, glory halleluia for grace! 🔗It's not about what is gone, over and done with, that is important. What is of great importance is "the now", because that is what we live in, the present. It's about what is happening now, and what is to come in the future, what will be from everlasting to everlasting. Be firm in faith, operating always in peace with God on your mind. Do hold fast, hold on, and holdout, remember "FOO" is the response to every scary "BOO" you encounter. Why? Because you experience the triumphant victory when you hold fast, hold on, and hold out, through, with, and in Jesus The Christ. It's a sure thing when you're supported by the heavenly cast, being hemmed in on every side, on solid ground not to be moved. 📖 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15 "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" 📖 Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart" 📖 Psalm 35:7 "How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings" 🔗One cannot base their worth or value on the subjective validation or invalidation by others. This must come from The Lord, and is evidenced by peace, peace, peace. If you base your worth on the opinion of others your spirit is unsettled, as only the truth is freeing. A lie does not settle well in your spirit. 📖 2 Corinthians 11:13 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ" 📖 2 Corinthians 11:20 "In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face" 📖 John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 🔗If you look to God, seeking help and strength to be obedient to His will, the Holy Spirit will come with His peace. You will feel the peace of Christ within. You will be justified in the sight of God by grace if you follow in His ways of righteousness, doing what is pleasing in a his sight. Always be about seeking the face of The Lord . 📖 Proverbs 2:7 "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity" 📖 Jeremiah 29:12-14 "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile..." 📖 Psalm 32:6 "Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them" 🔗If you are repentant, trying and desiring to become a better person, unfailing will be the graces that will be given. The Holy Spirit gives the necessary aide to all who allows Him a dwelling place within. 📖 Proverbs 28:18 "He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once" 📖 Psalm 84:11 "For God loveth mercy and truth: the Lord will give grace and glory" 📖 Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" 🔗Again, being settled in peace, know that contentment will gradually come as you work out your salvation. If you are feeling guilty and peace is missing, with frustration raging, rest assured, the spirit of darkness is at work. God is not present in fear, worry, anxiety, etc., but He is near, very near, to help you find a way out of such a state. 📖 Galatians 4:9 "But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?" 📖 Ephesians 6:11-12 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" 📖 John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" 🔗When The Lord is at work, you feel empowered and strengthened to push forward, and not helpless and hopeless, like you're headed down in defeat. 📖 Isaiah 30:26 "The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted" 📖 Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" 📖 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" 🔗It is very important to operate in the light. Root yourself in Jesus, for He alone is the light of the world that illumines and brings sight to the blind. 📖 Luke 11:35 "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness" 📖 Matthew 6 22-23) "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!…" 📖 Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them" 🔗Time is of the essence, no longer waste precious time, nor settle for being held a captive. Turn to The Lord, and be set free. That is the bottom line, to live with, in, and through Christ Jesus, and the guarantee is that He will most certainly "have your back" 📖 Isaiah 58:8 "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 📖 Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd" 📖 Luke 1:78 "because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven" In conclusion, Amen, amen, & amen, to God be the Glory. All those abiding in The Lord have the victory, case closed,end of the story! |
The potatoes
"The Friendship of the Saints", article by Fr. Aloysius Roche
Complete article can be found at this site: http://catholicexchange.com/friendship-saints
Excerpts from the article:
"Solomon says, “A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality”; and he adds the significant words: “They that fear the Lord shall find him.” The Old Testament delights us with the story of the friendship of David and Jonathan. Our Lord Himself called the Apostles His friends, and He meant His particular friends because “all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.” This encouraged the saints — even the most detached of them — to seek out kindred souls to give them their confidence and their friendship. They were well aware that although the Gospel bases perfection upon detachment of heart, it does not therefore follow that we are forbidden to love anyone with an affection stronger and more sensible than that which we are obliged to entertain for all in general.
Indeed, a whole volume might be written on the friendships of the saints — friendships that were, in the best sense of the word, particular friendships:
❇️ St. Francis de Sales: “There is not a man who has a heart more tender and more open to friendship than mine or who feels more keenly than I do the pain of separation from those I love.” This is St. Francis de Sales’s description of himself; and we may be sure that it could be applied to the majority of God’s great servants.
❇️ St. Thérèse of the Infant Jesus: “When I entered Carmel, I found in the novitiate a companion about eight years older than I was. In spite of the difference of age, we became the closest friends; and to encourage an affection that gave promise of fostering virtue, we were allowed to converse together.” How delightful to find this in the autobiography.
❇️ St. Francis was dying, and St. Clare also was very ill. “The Lady Clare, fearing she would die before him, wept most bitterly and would not be comforted, for she thought that she would not see before her departure her Comforter and Master.” The Mirror of Perfection tells us that, now this is a very human situation and very human language, and we can appreciate both. This is exactly how great friends feel about one another.
❇️ St. Teresa of Avila: “Please God you will live until I die; then I shall ask God to summon you promptly, lest I should be without you in Heaven.” She wrote in this to her friend, Don Francisco de Salcedo:
❇️ St. Augustine: He addresses Nebridius as “My sweet friend,” and he writes to St. Jerome, “O that it were possible to enjoy sweet and frequent converse with you; if not by living with you at least by living near you.” Like so many of the saints, St. Augustine had the power of winning and attracting devoted followers. Perhaps no Father of the Church had so many or such enthusiastic friends. And in the letters that passed between them, we see how generously he
responded to these affections.
❇️ St. Bernard thus laments the death of his friend Humbert of Clairvaux: “Flow, flow, my tears, so eager to flow. He who prevented your flowing is here no more. It is not he who is dead but I — I who now live only to die. Why, oh why, have we loved and why have we lost one another?”
❇️ St. Philip Neri: We are told of that friendship was one of the few innocent joys of life that he permitted himself; and certainly Providence lavished friends upon him in spite of the fact that no man ever tried the patience and virtue of his friends as did he.
Indeed, it seems to have been only necessary for people to come in contact with these saints to love them. “It is a favor bestowed on me by God,” wrote St. Teresa, “that my presence always gives pleasure to others.” One of her earliest biographers, Ribera, said of her, “She was and she looked so amiable that everybody loved her.”
Bl. Angela of Foligno had such a hold upon the affections of all who knew her, that out of pity for their feelings, she concealed the knowledge she had of her approaching death. Gallonio said of St. Philip Neri, “He hid the secret of his approaching death, lest our hearts should be crushed with sorrow.”
This is how St. Basil writes to the wife of his friend Nectarius to console her on the death of her son: “I know what the heart of a mother is, and when I think how very kind and gentle you in particular are, I can estimate how great must be your grief at the present moment. O plague of an evil demon, how great a calamity it has had the power to inflict! O earth, that has been compelled to submit to an affliction such as this! But let us not condemn the just decision of God. Above all, spare the partner of your life: be a consolation to one another; do not make the misfortune harder for him to bear.”
We must bear in mind, of course, that in those days, simplicity was a practical virtue. Christians expressed their feelings and sentiments with a naiveté to which we are strangers. We neither speak nor write the sincere idiom of the past. But our forefathers in the faith were not our sort of people at all. All their literature is marked by a charming spontaneity and exuberance of expression. Into the letters that they wrote to their friends they put the same straightforward frankness they put into their poetry and their Christmas carols. St. Boniface, for example, writes in exactly the same strain to all his friends; that is to say, he writes as few would be willing to write nowadays. Thus, to the Archbishop of York: “To a friend worthy of being embraced in the arms of love.” St. Anselm writes, “Go into the secret place of thy heart, look there at thy love for me, and thou shalt see mine for thee.” And again: “The soul of my Osbern, ah! I beseech thee, give it no other place than in my bosom.” It is true that this phraseology was more or less stereotyped. Formulas were drawn up by those who were good at it, and they were circulated especially among the monasteries and convents. They served as models and were copied to form the beginnings and endings of the letter. This may explain why we find in St. Jerome’s letters (for example, to Rufina) almost the identical sentences found in those of St. Boniface. Many of these formulas have survived: “To So-and-so, his humble countryman, who would embrace him with the wings of a sincere and indissoluble charity, sends salutations in the sweetness of true love.” Again: “Remember me; I always remember you. I give you all the love that is in my heart.”
We may find a little comfort in knowing that some of the saints were rather disappointed in their friends. St. Basil and St. Gregory, as we have seen, had serious misunderstandings in the end. Dona Isabel Roser was for years the staunch friend of St. Ignatius. She could not do too much for him; and, indeed, she had once actually saved his life, by dissuading him from sailing in an unseaworthy vessel that foundered on its voyage, with the loss of all hands. At one period, the saint writes to her, “I am persuaded that if I were to forget all the good that God has done me through you, His Divine Majesty would forget me also.” Yet, this same good Dona Isabel’s love turned to spite. She subjected St. Ignatius to a great deal of annoyance in Rome, whither she had followed him, and she ended by taking proceedings against him for embezzlement in the Ecclesiastical Courts. Needless to say, she lost her case, and she also lost her friend.
“A friend is long sought, scarcely found, and hard to keep”: with this reflection, Abbess Eangyth ends one of her letters to St. Boniface; so that it appears that even the saints shared the disappointments common to plain people like ourselves. Indeed, they sometimes lavished their affections on rather an ungrateful world. The prophets of old were stoned for their pains; and the task of the reformer is proverbially a thankless task. Scant recognition came to Fr. Damien during his lifetime: his motives were suspected, and even his character was assailed. St. John Bosco was looked upon by some as a madman. St. Teresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena were accused of being bad women, and their very friendships were misunderstood. Some of our English martyrs were betrayed by those whom they regarded as friends.
But if affection is unrequited, it is never thereby wasted. There is no such thing as wasted affection. “The real reward of love is found in loving.” Love is its own reward. We are happier often in the affection we feel than in that which we excite; and when, by an unhappy chance, love goes out from our hearts only to be rejected, it returns again, so that to some extent, we are the gainers.
Editor’s note: This article is adapted from a chapter in Fr. Roche’s book, The Bedside Book of Saints, which is available from Sophia Institute Press.
"The Friendship of the Saints", article by Fr. Aloysius Roche
Complete article can be found at this site: http://catholicexchange.com/friendship-saints
Excerpts from the article:
"Solomon says, “A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality”; and he adds the significant words: “They that fear the Lord shall find him.” The Old Testament delights us with the story of the friendship of David and Jonathan. Our Lord Himself called the Apostles His friends, and He meant His particular friends because “all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.” This encouraged the saints — even the most detached of them — to seek out kindred souls to give them their confidence and their friendship. They were well aware that although the Gospel bases perfection upon detachment of heart, it does not therefore follow that we are forbidden to love anyone with an affection stronger and more sensible than that which we are obliged to entertain for all in general.
Indeed, a whole volume might be written on the friendships of the saints — friendships that were, in the best sense of the word, particular friendships:
❇️ St. Francis de Sales: “There is not a man who has a heart more tender and more open to friendship than mine or who feels more keenly than I do the pain of separation from those I love.” This is St. Francis de Sales’s description of himself; and we may be sure that it could be applied to the majority of God’s great servants.
❇️ St. Thérèse of the Infant Jesus: “When I entered Carmel, I found in the novitiate a companion about eight years older than I was. In spite of the difference of age, we became the closest friends; and to encourage an affection that gave promise of fostering virtue, we were allowed to converse together.” How delightful to find this in the autobiography.
❇️ St. Francis was dying, and St. Clare also was very ill. “The Lady Clare, fearing she would die before him, wept most bitterly and would not be comforted, for she thought that she would not see before her departure her Comforter and Master.” The Mirror of Perfection tells us that, now this is a very human situation and very human language, and we can appreciate both. This is exactly how great friends feel about one another.
❇️ St. Teresa of Avila: “Please God you will live until I die; then I shall ask God to summon you promptly, lest I should be without you in Heaven.” She wrote in this to her friend, Don Francisco de Salcedo:
❇️ St. Augustine: He addresses Nebridius as “My sweet friend,” and he writes to St. Jerome, “O that it were possible to enjoy sweet and frequent converse with you; if not by living with you at least by living near you.” Like so many of the saints, St. Augustine had the power of winning and attracting devoted followers. Perhaps no Father of the Church had so many or such enthusiastic friends. And in the letters that passed between them, we see how generously he
responded to these affections.
❇️ St. Bernard thus laments the death of his friend Humbert of Clairvaux: “Flow, flow, my tears, so eager to flow. He who prevented your flowing is here no more. It is not he who is dead but I — I who now live only to die. Why, oh why, have we loved and why have we lost one another?”
❇️ St. Philip Neri: We are told of that friendship was one of the few innocent joys of life that he permitted himself; and certainly Providence lavished friends upon him in spite of the fact that no man ever tried the patience and virtue of his friends as did he.
Indeed, it seems to have been only necessary for people to come in contact with these saints to love them. “It is a favor bestowed on me by God,” wrote St. Teresa, “that my presence always gives pleasure to others.” One of her earliest biographers, Ribera, said of her, “She was and she looked so amiable that everybody loved her.”
Bl. Angela of Foligno had such a hold upon the affections of all who knew her, that out of pity for their feelings, she concealed the knowledge she had of her approaching death. Gallonio said of St. Philip Neri, “He hid the secret of his approaching death, lest our hearts should be crushed with sorrow.”
This is how St. Basil writes to the wife of his friend Nectarius to console her on the death of her son: “I know what the heart of a mother is, and when I think how very kind and gentle you in particular are, I can estimate how great must be your grief at the present moment. O plague of an evil demon, how great a calamity it has had the power to inflict! O earth, that has been compelled to submit to an affliction such as this! But let us not condemn the just decision of God. Above all, spare the partner of your life: be a consolation to one another; do not make the misfortune harder for him to bear.”
We must bear in mind, of course, that in those days, simplicity was a practical virtue. Christians expressed their feelings and sentiments with a naiveté to which we are strangers. We neither speak nor write the sincere idiom of the past. But our forefathers in the faith were not our sort of people at all. All their literature is marked by a charming spontaneity and exuberance of expression. Into the letters that they wrote to their friends they put the same straightforward frankness they put into their poetry and their Christmas carols. St. Boniface, for example, writes in exactly the same strain to all his friends; that is to say, he writes as few would be willing to write nowadays. Thus, to the Archbishop of York: “To a friend worthy of being embraced in the arms of love.” St. Anselm writes, “Go into the secret place of thy heart, look there at thy love for me, and thou shalt see mine for thee.” And again: “The soul of my Osbern, ah! I beseech thee, give it no other place than in my bosom.” It is true that this phraseology was more or less stereotyped. Formulas were drawn up by those who were good at it, and they were circulated especially among the monasteries and convents. They served as models and were copied to form the beginnings and endings of the letter. This may explain why we find in St. Jerome’s letters (for example, to Rufina) almost the identical sentences found in those of St. Boniface. Many of these formulas have survived: “To So-and-so, his humble countryman, who would embrace him with the wings of a sincere and indissoluble charity, sends salutations in the sweetness of true love.” Again: “Remember me; I always remember you. I give you all the love that is in my heart.”
We may find a little comfort in knowing that some of the saints were rather disappointed in their friends. St. Basil and St. Gregory, as we have seen, had serious misunderstandings in the end. Dona Isabel Roser was for years the staunch friend of St. Ignatius. She could not do too much for him; and, indeed, she had once actually saved his life, by dissuading him from sailing in an unseaworthy vessel that foundered on its voyage, with the loss of all hands. At one period, the saint writes to her, “I am persuaded that if I were to forget all the good that God has done me through you, His Divine Majesty would forget me also.” Yet, this same good Dona Isabel’s love turned to spite. She subjected St. Ignatius to a great deal of annoyance in Rome, whither she had followed him, and she ended by taking proceedings against him for embezzlement in the Ecclesiastical Courts. Needless to say, she lost her case, and she also lost her friend.
“A friend is long sought, scarcely found, and hard to keep”: with this reflection, Abbess Eangyth ends one of her letters to St. Boniface; so that it appears that even the saints shared the disappointments common to plain people like ourselves. Indeed, they sometimes lavished their affections on rather an ungrateful world. The prophets of old were stoned for their pains; and the task of the reformer is proverbially a thankless task. Scant recognition came to Fr. Damien during his lifetime: his motives were suspected, and even his character was assailed. St. John Bosco was looked upon by some as a madman. St. Teresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena were accused of being bad women, and their very friendships were misunderstood. Some of our English martyrs were betrayed by those whom they regarded as friends.
But if affection is unrequited, it is never thereby wasted. There is no such thing as wasted affection. “The real reward of love is found in loving.” Love is its own reward. We are happier often in the affection we feel than in that which we excite; and when, by an unhappy chance, love goes out from our hearts only to be rejected, it returns again, so that to some extent, we are the gainers.
Editor’s note: This article is adapted from a chapter in Fr. Roche’s book, The Bedside Book of Saints, which is available from Sophia Institute Press.
The meat.
Article: "A Treasure beyond Compare", from the magazine: The Word among Us
A big thank you to Cathy, she is responsible for the acquisition of this article, as she is definitely a "WAU girl". She have even pulled her family on board, 👍 4Da Evangelizer (husband, son, and her mother. She also gave gift subscriptions to a few others, but they did not renew their subscriptions like the core three. It was Sherry who first gifted Cathy, so she's a "WAU girl" to, and 👍 up for another "Evangelizer". My MOC (magazine of choice) is "Magnificat", so consider me the "M" girl. What Christian publication are you reading? Anyone care to comment?
Excerpts from the article:
"As Christians, we know that love is at the heart of the gospel message. It was love that moved the Father to send Jesus to earth. It was out of love that Jesus embraced the cross for us. And it was to fill each of us with the love of God that the Holy Spirit came to us on Pentecost Sunday. But the story doesn’t end with individuals experiencing God’s love through the Spirit. When the Spirit came upon the first disciples, they felt compelled to commit themselves to each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord:
📖 Acts 2:46-47 “Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people”
If these first believers were able to band together and support each other with such devotion, why can’t we? What is to stop us from coming together to share our lives and experience God’s love in our friendships? As you look at some stories of friendship in the Bible to see the lessons they have for us today, ask the Spirit to direct you to people with whom you can share your faith. God truly does want to give all of us relationships like these as part of our heritage in his Son.
In a world that values self-reliance and independence, the witness of believers loving one another can speak far more powerfully than any sermon. Nothing is more moving than relationships that stand the test of time, survive the challenges of sin and temptation, and deepen over many years. So much in the world is temporary, but relationships founded on the love of Christ—whether they be friendships, marriages, or even business partnerships—can become a source of stability and comfort. If Jonathan could love David so faithfully, if Ruth could be so committed to Naomi, and if young Timothy could be such a blessing to Paul, imagine the kind of impact our friendships could have on us and on the people around us!
💠💠Brothers from Different Mothers - Jonathan and David💠💠
As a young man in King Saul’s court, David set himself apart by defeating the mighty Philistine Goliath. From that point on, in numerous victories over the Philistines, David won the hearts of the Israelites and demonstrated that God was with him. Throughout Israel, the refrain rang out,
📖 1 Samuel 18:7; 21:12; 29:5 “Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands!”
David had become such a hero that everyone expected him to marry into Saul’s family and inherit the kingdom. Everyone, that is, except Saul. Saul’s heart was set on making his son, Jonathan, king, and he was determined to keep David at a distance. On a number of occasions, he even tried to kill David. Given this situation, you might expect Jonathan to have taken his father’s side and try to discredit David. But the very opposite happened. A deep friendship formed between the two men, something that not even Saul’s attempts at murder could overcome. They became so close, in fact, that:
📖 1 Samuel 18:1 “Jonathan’s life became bound up with David’s life; he loved him as his very self”
Jonathan recognized that God had chosen David to be the next king of Israel. And so, without a hint of jealousy or bitterness, he did everything he could to protect his friend from his father. He even gave David his own sword, robe, and shield—symbols of Jonathan’s position as heir to the throne. When Jonathan was later killed in battle, David revealed how valuable his friendship had been:
📖 2 Samuel 1:26) “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! Most dear have you been to me; more wondrous your love to me than the love of women”
🔶🔷🔶For Reflection and Action:
Society often encourages people, especially men, to keep their guard up around other people. But when brothers in the Lord place each other’s needs and concerns ahead of their own, as Jonathan did for David, it shows the world that true friendship is possible. When close friends honor God’s work in one another and strive to stay united, people are touched, and the kingdom of God is built up. If you want to build Christian relationships, try looking into groups in your parish that put an emphasis on relationships. Many parishes have organizations like Cursillo, Christ Renews His Parish, LifeTeen, or Renew. In addition, many also have their own prayer groups or Bible studies.
💠💠Covenant Loyalty - Ruth and Naomi💠💠
The Book of Ruth tells the story of a young woman who left her home, her family, and her traditions out of loyalty to her widowed mother-in-law. After her husband—Naomi’s son—died, Ruth could have stayed in Moab to find another husband from among her own people. But she decided to stay with Naomi and make sure the older woman was cared for. When Naomi tried to convince her to choose the greater security of a life in Moab, Ruth replied with words that are often identified with a couple’s wedding vows:
📖 Ruth 1:16-17 “Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Where you die I will die, and there be buried”
What did Naomi have to offer Ruth? She herself admitted there was nothing she could do for her daughter-in-law. But Ruth wasn’t trying to get something from Naomi. She saw a friend in need and decided to help. So she joined Naomi in Bethlehem and took up menial work in order to provide for both of them. Ruth’s hard work and unselfish care for Naomi attracted the attention of Boaz, a wealthy distant relative. Boaz fell in love with Ruth and took her as his wife. The story ends with Naomi holding Ruth’s infant son in her arms and joining the women of Bethlehem in blessing God for caring for her through the love and commitment of Ruth.
🔶🔷🔶 For Reflection and Action:
The Book of Ruth shows how much God blesses us when we care for our family members, especially our elderly parents and in-laws. They also are our “friends,” in a unique and blessed way. When was the last time you thanked your parents for all they have done for you? Perhaps you could buy a gift for a special aunt or uncle, or write a letter expressing your affection. This act of kindness shows that you have not forgotten them. It shows that you want to honor them and minister God’s love to them. Remember, Jesus didn’t gain anything by holding fast to you; he did it simply because he loves you. Similarly, we don’t always “gain” something immediately by caring for our elders. Still, we know that they deserve our respect, our love, and our commitment. Even if they have already passed away, we can still honor them by praying for them and keeping their memories alive.
💠💠💠Building the Kingdom Together - Paul and Timothy💠💠💠
Timothy was among the early disciples in the town of Lystra in what is now south-central Turkey. When Paul visited Lystra, he met Timothy and was impressed with the young man’s faith. He invited Timothy to join him and took him on most of his missionary journeys. In the cities of Corinth and Ephesus, Timothy was right beside Paul, preaching the gospel and building the Church. Timothy became one of Paul’s most trusted co-workers and closest brothers. Recommending him to the Philippians, Paul once wrote:
📖 Philippians 2:20-22 “I have no one comparable to [Timothy] for genuine interest in whatever concerns you. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know his worth, how as a child with a father he served along with me in the cause of the gospel”
🔶🔷🔶 For Reflection and Action:
Do you want to know the blessings of Christian friendships but aren’t sure how to find people who share your convictions? One easy way is to get involved in a service project in your parish or neighborhood. Many parishes have men’s clubs, women’s altar guilds, pro-life ministries, food pantries, and other service organizations. Some even host mission trips. All of these groups, based on Jesus’ command to serve his people, offer the opportunity to get to know other people who share your faith and to do it in a way that builds up your whole community. It was as they worked together for the gospel that Timothy and Paul became such close friends. What started out as a mentor-student relationship turned into a deep friendship marked by mutual respect and support.
The Dessert
Another aspect of friendship that may be overlooked is fraternal correction. It definitely does have it's place, probably less among casual relationships, and more pronounced in close relationships. Nevertheless, it is a must to humbly receive and to give correction accordingly. In this case it is more of a blessing to receive than to give because becoming mature in Christ is the name of the game. Like my mom used to say: "you can't always see your own errors". One day it was a delight to finally find the scripture for the basis of her remarks.
📖 Psalm 19:12 "Who can understand his errors? Who can cleanse me from secret faults"
Audio recording: "Fraternal Correction", by Msgr. Charles Pope
http://frpope.com/audio/23%20A%202014.mp3
fяιєи∂ѕ ιи ¢няιѕт, 2в ωєll υ иєє∂ 2тαкє ѕριяιtual ¢αяє
Dα ѕριяιт мoves ρσωєяfυlly, ѕσ в αlєят, єи¢συяαgє∂, & αωαяє
тαкє ¢συяαgє & киow тнєяє'll в иσ ¢яσѕѕ υ ¢αи'т вєαя
ℓινє fєαяlєѕѕ ¢αυѕє Gσ∂ 'ѕ ℓυν, ѕтяєиgтн, & нєlp ιѕ αlωαуѕ тнєяє
✞ⓂⓂ (❁´◡`❁) Tru/GIG
™
Another aspect of friendship that may be overlooked is fraternal correction. It definitely does have it's place, probably less among casual relationships, and more pronounced in close relationships. Nevertheless, it is a must to humbly receive and to give correction accordingly. In this case it is more of a blessing to receive than to give because becoming mature in Christ is the name of the game. Like my mom used to say: "you can't always see your own errors". One day it was a delight to finally find the scripture for the basis of her remarks.
📖 Psalm 19:12 "Who can understand his errors? Who can cleanse me from secret faults"
Audio recording: "Fraternal Correction", by Msgr. Charles Pope
http://frpope.com/audio/23%20A%202014.mp3
fяιєи∂ѕ ιи ¢няιѕт, 2в ωєll υ иєє∂ 2тαкє ѕριяιtual ¢αяє
Dα ѕριяιт мoves ρσωєяfυlly, ѕσ в αlєят, єи¢συяαgє∂, & αωαяє
тαкє ¢συяαgє & киow тнєяє'll в иσ ¢яσѕѕ υ ¢αи'т вєαя
ℓινє fєαяlєѕѕ ¢αυѕє Gσ∂ 'ѕ ℓυν, ѕтяєиgтн, & нєlp ιѕ αlωαуѕ тнєяє
✞ⓂⓂ (❁´◡`❁) Tru/GIG
™