Readings: Sirach 6:5-17, Psalm 119:12,16,18,27,34,35, Mark 10:1-12
“God made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:6-9)
- While today’s Gospel passage is on the topic of divorce in marriage, the First Reading talks about the Faithful Friend. In describing the faithful friend, Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) points out the qualities of the fake friend.
- 1) A Table Companion. This one comes to eat and party with you. They help you to spend your money, but will never support you when you are in need. You are only important to them as long as they benefit from you. They are parasites who feed on their hosts and move quickly to the next one.
- 2) A Friend who Changes into an Enemy. This is a genuine friend who cannot stand the test of time. They are like Judas Iscariot, they earn your trust quickly and support you all the way. They know all your secrets, they know where to find you, they know how to hurt you. When the going gets tough, they stab in the back and move on. Sirach says: “Keep far from your enemies but be on guard towards your friends.” (Sirach 6:13). In other words, never be too relaxed around your friends.
- 3) A friend Who Cannot Keep Quiet. This type of friend is always the first to announce you to the whole world. Their middle name is gossip. Everything you say to such a friend will be heard all over the world. This friend screenshots their chats with you on social media for adverts.
- Having described the qualities of the fake friend, Sirach goes on to talk about the faithful friend. “He that finds one has found a treasure. There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend, and no scales can measure his excellence. A faithful friend is an elixir of life.” Do not be a fake friend.
- Sirach also adds: “Whoever who fears the Lord directs his friendship aright.” Being a faithful friend does not necessarily mean being a sexual partner. Sex is reserved for marriage. You are not being a faithful friend when you indulge in pre-marital or extra-marital sex. Any friendship that does not have God as its centre is doomed to fail.
- Marriage works best when the couple are faithful friends to each other. A faithful friend will never cheat on their spouse; they remain companions for life no matter how bad things become. A faithful friend will never turn into an enemy or stop loving their spouse. The best definition of marriage is the union of two imperfect persons who accept each other’s flaws.
- Today’s Gospel passage shows that Jesus does not support divorce. God did not create marriage so that it can have an expiry date. “So, they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” Make your spouse your best friend. Be faithful even when your spouse isn’t.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, bless our marriages and make couples ever more faithful in friendship with one another. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Friday Week 7 In Ordinary Time. Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Sirach 6:5-17, Psalm 119:12,16,18,27,34,35, Mark 10:1-12).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu