28 Feb 2025
A Taste of the Reign of God
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For 28 February 2025, Friday of week 7 in Ordinary Time, based on Sirach 6:5-17
Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
Let those who are friendly with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.
For there are friends who are such when it suits them,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
And there are friends who change into enemies,
and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.
And there are friends who sit at your table,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
When you are prosperous, they become your second self,
and lord it over your servants;
but if you are brought low, they turn against you,
and hide themselves from you.
Keep away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.
Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.
Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
and those who fear the Lord will find them.
Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,
for as they are, so are their neighbours also.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
01 March 2025 @ 1:07 am
Thank you Beth for a contemporary and much needed look at the scripture.
01 March 2025 @ 2:02 am
Thanks, Beth! You provided much food for thought for our time!
01 March 2025 @ 2:57 am
Thanks, Beth, especially for linking friendship with the Synod’s words on. listening
01 March 2025 @ 3:02 am
Thank you Beth for your inspiring preaching! The Word of God is ever ancient , ever new! You call us to rediscover the values of faithful friends ,human kindness and truth which we are not finding on Breaking News these days! I will pray with your reminders today.
01 March 2025 @ 4:16 am
“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.” A timely reminder to be one.
01 March 2025 @ 6:34 am
Thank you, Beth, for this profound preaching. By illuminating the qualities and behaviors that support and reveal the gift of human friendship, you reveal a way to a deeper, contemplative friendship with Christ. A good prelude to our upcoming Lent!
01 March 2025 @ 3:39 pm
Why should I be surprised at your profound message on the depths of friendship, a gift I can too easily take for granted! Thanks, Beth, for your gift of friendship.