Prayer for October

A friend is a gift from God encountered in an unexpected place and time

"When you're down and troubled and you need some loving care..." is how this Carole King song about friendship starts. Friendship is a beautiful relationship between people. A friend is a gift from God encountered in an unexpected place and time. The beauty of friendship is that it is both free and priceless. To be in a friendship, you need to practice the virtue of self-disclosure -- to be known by the other person, as you have been known by God. Humility, honesty, and unconditional love deepen your relationships with friends.

Making friends takes time
"If you want a friend, tame me!" said the fox to the Little Prince. This quote is from the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It takes time to become friends. To be a friend means you have to be patient, to know one another, to trust and to be accepted for who you are. The fox also said: "You become responsible forever for what you have tamed." No wonder we care so much for our friends and would be with them in good times and in bad, in laughter and in tears. Forever friends!

Gifts from God
Jesus said to his disciples, "I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, I chose you to bear fruit in abundance" (John 15:15-16) Jesus did not choose his friends from the upper class of society. His disciples are his friends. We do not choose our friends either. Our friends come into our lives as gifts from God and it is up to us whether or not we accept that gift and unwrap the package it comes in. The gift itself is hidden in the wrappings and invisible to the eyes. The fox said to the Little Prince: "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." Only a friend can understand and treasure one's idiosyncrasies. Only a friend can share both laughter and tears. Edward Young wrote: "Friendship is the wine of life." The longer the relationship is between friends, the stronger and deeper grounded it gets. Forever friends!

If you wish to follow Jesus in our Christian way of life, you will listen to him when he says: "Love one another, as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends." (John 15:12-14)

Questions for reflection:

Who are your friends? Where and how did you meet them? Do you consider your friends as gifts from God?
Are you willing to be tamed by Jesus and spend time getting to know him? Would you open your heart to receive Jesus as your friend in the people that you meet? If not, what hinders you from unwrapping this gift from God?
How do you nurture and deepen your relationship with your friends? What symbols, images, or words would describe your friendships?

Suggestions:

Be open to receive God's gift of friendship by letting yourself be tamed, known, and accepted by another person. Remember, you are a gift from God a beautiful gift to the people around you who will become your friends!
When you find a friend, treasure your friendship. Spend time with your friends and share your stories, laughter, tears, hopes, dreams, and let your hand be held for comfort. Be truthful to your friends knowing that accepting the truth about yourself will deepen and nurture your friendships.
Distance is not an obstacle to friendship. Reach out and connect with your friends who are miles away, wherever they may be. Send them a note, a card, or e-mail. A phone call would lift the spirits of your friend.
Remember your friends in your prayers and thank God for the friends you have in your life. Pray for the grace to respond to the invitation of Jesus to be his friend.

Prayer

tamed, known
laughing, listening, comforting
a life-giving relationship

We invite you to share your comments
Tell us about a moment of friendship in your life. Send comments to: Sr. Thérèse Meunier tmeunier@csj-to.ca For other prayers, see this page

Contact Us:

Prayer for October