Importance of Spiritual Friendships

It has been a LONG time since I've posted on this blog but on a lonely night it is good to come back. Today is the feast day of Saints Timothy and Titus. The readings and reflections in the Magnificat emphasize that they were friends and helpers of St. Paul who had very different spiritual gifts. Timothy is called Paul's confidant whereas Titus is the negotioater, a peacemaker as the Beatitudes would list him. Both men helped Paul and the early Church spread the Gospel and they helped each other also grow in faith through their friendships which were solidly founded on their common faith.

Friends are those who inspire us to be better than we currently are and do God's work in pushing us to be more like Christ. A friend fueled by the love of God will encourage you to "be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" not only in words but in their own actions. At the end of the day, without support and friendship, I feel we all will fall short and become hypocrites in our faith, saying one thing while doing another. It is very hard to live a good Christian life when you are not surrounded by good Christians who will admonish you for your wrongdoings and praise God with you for His many gifts and virtues He's bestowed upon you. As of late, I have been wholly lacking in spiritual friendships and I certainly feel that missing in my heart.

St. Paul tells us, as he told Titus in his letter, "For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, nor given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: 8 But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent: 9 Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince the gainsayers." Though we are not all bishops, this advice applies the same to all of us. How different might we act every day if we had a friend remind us of these things? If we had someone who cared enough about our relationship to God to call and check on us spiritually? Spiritual brothers and sisters, be sure to pray for one another and check on one another. None of us can get through this alone. The journey of this life requires us to have companions, "It is not good for man to be alone". Spiritual relationships, whether they be romantic or friendships, are a necessary and joy filled obligation to come closer to our Lord. Let's embrace such friendships and keep Christ at the center of all things in our lives.

God bless!