12 January, Friday — On Friends

Friday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

1 Sam 8:4-7,10-22
Mk 2:1-12

“We have never seen anything like this.”

When I put myself in the shoes of the people in the house described in today’s gospel passage, what I am astounded with are the four friends who doggedly stripped the roof and lowered their friend down to be healed. Mark records that “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic…” meaning that Jesus himself was moved by the staunch faith of the four friends.

At the end of the passage, after the man picks up his stretcher and walks out in front of everyone, the people praise God. But what is it that they are praising? Is it the miracle Jesus had performed by healing the paralytic? Or is it the faith of the four friends who, by their actions, had led to the healing of the paralytic?

Brothers and sisters, we all need friends in our lives. I am sure we’ve heard of the term ‘fairweather friend’, and we have our own descriptors for all those whose paths we cross on a regular basis. I myself have been given the label ‘O-F-F’ – only friend forever – by a longtime friend’s daughter (I have known him for more than 30 years now and we have been through much together). Then there are those who posit that we are the sum of the five closest people we surround ourselves with on a regular basis. By that reckoning, most of us should be the ‘sum’ of all our family members. This may have been true in the past, but it feels that today, many people would rather spend time with colleagues or pursuing relationships that may be fleeting or very much related to work.

Try this experiment — look at your last twenty messages (or phone calls) on your device. Then count how many were to family members (yes, even the in-laws can be counted). IKR…So I know that in my hour of need, I can count on a few people to drop whatever they’re doing and come to my aid. And I would do exactly the same for them. In the past, that number would likely have been a lot more. But over the past few years, as I have gradually turned my life around, the number has dwindled. Interestingly, other doors have opened and I am beginning to reassess my focus.

Who will I help to lower down from the roof? Who will ask me to be one of the four to lower down a friend? Who will be the ones lowering me down to meet Jesus? These are the three ‘vantage points’ I am beginning to take as I approach the next few months and prepare for my walk across Spain. I know I need to be prepared to see things that I may never have before. Or meet people who may, one way or another, bring me closer to Christ. Just like a German pilgrim I met in 2016 on the road to Santiago de Compostela.    

(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)

Prayer: Father, be with me as I navigate the many complex, multi-layered relationships in my life. Help me to discern the true meaning of family and what being a true friend to others entails.

Thanksgiving: Dearest Father, we thank you for Your guidance, counsel and wisdom in our journeys. Thank you for always lighting our paths, even though we may be distracted by those around us.