Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17 / Mark 10:1-12
No man is an island and it is not good for man to be alone. Even if we want some time to be alone by ourselves, we won't stay away from others for too long a time
No doubt we come into contact with others whom we generally call friends.
But have we ever made an assessment of our friends? Do we know who are the fair-weather friends and who are the faithful friends?
The 1st reading tell us this: If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and be in no hurry to trust him.
And then it goes on to describe the several types of fair-weather friends that we need to be wary of.
But towards the end of the passage there, there is a turn and a twist. It says that those who fear the Lord will find a faithful friend. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.
In other words, as much as we look for a faithful friend, the question comes back to us in that are we also a faithful friend to others?
More so in a marital relationship, the spouse must be the best friend and the most faithful friend.
So if we find ourselves always complaining about our friends and our spouse, then it is time to ask ourselves what kind of friend are we and what kind of spouse are we.
And whoever fears the Lord will be a true friend and a faithful spouse.