friendship – The Noontimes

Sirach 25:9: Scrutiny – Part I

Sirach 25:9: Scrutiny – Part I

Thursday, September 14, 2023

We have spent a great deal of time with this portion of Sirach which deals with the value of constancy in relationships. Today we might focus on one verse: Happy is the one who finds a friend . . .

Too often we do not open ourselves to spiritual intimacy with one another; this assures momentary safety but ultimate loss. Being open to one another brings us more fully to the Holy Spirit and today’s MAGNIFICAT Meditation is about how this opening of self can be a two-edged sword: Let the word of God penetrate you as the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, to assay the thoughts and purposes of your heart. Then all secrets will lie open before you in a way you could never have dreamed. There is your inmost center the Spirit will scrutinize all, even the depths of God’s nature!

We are created to return home to God. We are created in a variety of looks, dreams, resources and gifts. When we open ourselves to God’s scrutiny we find our true depth, our true weaknesses and our true strengths. We fear knowing the worst and long to hear the best about ourselves and yet, in an odd way, when we hear the worst about ourselves we are able to rise to the best in ourselves. And this is what a true friendship can do – give us a safe harbor to reveal our inner self for loving scrutiny. This scrutiny brings us wisdom. This wisdom brings us peace. This peace is seen by many as we carry the voice of God into the world. This scrutiny is worth the price wrought by the two-edged sword which pierces to the joints and marrow, assaying the thoughts and purposes of our hearts.

Cameron, Peter John. “Meditation of the Day.” MAGNIFICAT. 22.9 (2009). Print.

A Favorite from September 22, 2009.

Image from: https://clipart-library.com/free/big-eyes-png.html

September 14, 2023

friendship, peace, two-edged sword, wisdom

Job 19:19: Horror

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Job 19:19

Horror

All my intimate friends hold me in horror; those whom I have loved have turned against me!

God says: This is perhaps the deepest fear that grips you: fear that your family or friends will turn against you. So many acts of terror have taken place at the hands of humans who fear the loss of intimate friends. Yet, honest and authentic friends do not abandon one another. Good and faithful friends do not threaten to cast off relationships like used clothing. Noble and dear friends do not use one another in useless games of self-preservation. The real horror in your lives is not that you are left alone . . . but that you take any action or profess any creed as you gather around standards that are your own and not mine. When you join a group or society, think about what it is that calls . . . and consider if the work you do with them builds or destroys the kingdom.

Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Enter the words: Last Supper Discourses in to the blog search bar and consider the quality of God’s peace. Read more of Jesus’ Discourse by following the scripture link to John above; or use a Bible Concordance and enter the words “Do not be afraid” and determine how much God cares about our well-being, how eager God is to dispel the horror in our lives.

For some thought-provoking ideas about Jesus’ last days, click on the image above or go to: http://www.sott.net/article/259610-Shape-Shifting-Jesus-described-in-ancient-Egyptian-text

July 3, 2021

fear, friendship, God’s peace, John 14:27, Last Supper Discourses, the kingdom

Sirach 22: Fool or Friend – Part I

Monday, August 24, 2020

Sirach 22 – Fool or Friend

This chapter opens with some marvelous images of those who are lazy: The sluggard is like a stone in the mud; everyone hisses at his disgrace. The sluggard is like a lump of dung; whoever touches him wipes his hand. Images of people I have known through my life move before me in a motion picture of stories I had forgotten. They are awakened today as I read about unruly children, a hussy, fools – teaching a fool is like gluing a broken pot, or like disturbing a man in the depths of sleep. Still further on we are admonished to steer clear of brutes and stupid men, people with timid resolve.

Then we arrive at a wonderful didactic piece on friendship in which we are asked to remember that a contemptuous insult, a confidence broken, or a treacherous attack will drive away any friend. And before flames burst forth an oven smokes; so does abuse come before bloodshed. A final warning about the importance of friendship closes this song: From him who brings harm to his friend all will stand aloof who hear of it. But this anthem to friendship seems to me to hinge upon verse 21: Should you draw a sword against a friend, fear not, you can be reconciled.

Finally we read a simple prayer: Who will set a guard over my mouth and upon my lips an effective seal, that I may not fall through them, that my tongue might not destroy me? This last verse of Sirach 22 is an effective morning prayer that any one of us might want to intone as we rise. Who among us has not regretted words that were said in haste or without having undergone serious thought before leaving our lips?

As we consider Fools and Friends, we remind ourselves that the links we create with others and the manner in which we interact with others tell the world about our relationship with God. We pause in our reflection to consider our relationships with others, including God. We take some time over the next twenty-four hours to discover something old and something new about ourselves. We consider what kind of fool we have been, what sort of friendship we nurture, and how much room we make for God in the bonds we forge in life.

To investigate how and why others forge relationships, go to the Blogroll in the column to the right on this blog and choose a link. As we explore, we have the opportunity to discern something new and something old about ourselves; we are offered the opportunity to define the fools and friends in our lives, and what they have to tell us about ourselves. Tomorrow, Part II of Fool or Friend.

Image from: http://thefoolsquest.blogspot.com/

First written on December 28, 2008; re-written and posted today as a Favorite.

August 24, 2020

abuse, friendship, lazziness, reconciliation, wisdom

Sirach 8 & 9: The Measure of Friends

Monday, February 24, 2013: Sirach 8 & 9 – Part II

The Measure of Friends

Today’s Gospel is Luke’s description of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28b-36) and each time we come across these verses we are given the opportunity to again think about the concept of friendship: what it means to us, how we live out friendship with others, and what qualities we hope to find in friends. So often in the New Testament stories we watch Jesus interact with those closest to him and we always find Jesus giving more than words or gestures to his friends; he brings more than The Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). He brings himself; he gives his full and total self. And the marvel of Jesus is that he continues to be present to each of us today . . . even when we do not number him as one of our friends. In his love for us, Jesus reminds us of the important of giving even when we anticipate receiving nothing in return for the measure with which we measure will be measured out to us. (Luke 6:38, Mark 4:24, Matthew 7:2). Jesus spares nothing in his great love for his friends. We must spare nothing as well. Sirach has words that help us to nurture friendship, and to gain the wisdom that helps us to be a good friend to others.

Sirach cautions us to stay away from the powerful.

Know that you are stepping among snares and walking over a net.

Sirach tells us that we ought not to worry about a “sinner’s fame” or a “proud man’s success”.

You know not what disaster awaits him . . . he will not reach death unpunished.

Sirach suggests that we measure our neighbors in order to associate with the wise and learned.

Let your conversations be about the law of the Lord.

Sirach reminds us of the intimacy of a shared meal.

Have the just for your table companions.

Sirach says to us what we know to be true about new friendship.

A new friend is like new wine which you drink with pleasure only when it has aged.

And Sirach tells us that time and patience are important between friends if the relationship is to have value.

Discard not an old friend, for the new one cannot equal him.

When we feel ourselves caught by the allure of control, when we feel trapped by the deception of an associate, when we realize that a colleague has been manipulative . . . we know that it is time to take measure. Not of the other, but of ourselves. Are we willing to witness to truth? Are we willing to break silence about a long-held lie? Where do we find comfort . . . in the solace of associates who stroke my wounded self . . . or in the integrity of a relationship where we are lovingly corrected? And in turn, are we willing to become a wounded healer? Are we willing to be a true friend?

Tomorrow, a prayer for Friends and Friendship.

Image from: http://www.iexplore.com/experiences/culinary/gallery

The other Transfiguration stories appear in Matthew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:2-8.

February 24, 2020

friendship, Luke 6:38, Mark 4:24, Mark 9:2-8, Matthew 17:1-8, Matthew 7:2, measuring ourselves, Transfiguration

Tag: friendship

Sirach 25:9: Scrutiny – Part I

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Job 19:19: Horror

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Sirach 22: Fool or Friend – Part I

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Sirach 8 & 9: The Measure of Friends

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