Being a Friend for Christ (Week of January 14)
On the Road
Everyone needs a sounding board, someone who will offer support and constructive advice, a person you can depend on. Being a disciple of Jesus is not to be a solitary ministry. We are members of the Body of Christ, and as persons within the Church, we are never alone. For Christ said that when we gather together in his name, he is present among us (see Matthew 18:20). Finding a mentor is one positive step you can take to guard against isolation and is important for spiritual discernment. Being mentored and mentoring others allow us to share successes and worries. Keep in mind that as members of the Church, seeking to accomplish the mission of the Church, the Holy Spirit works through us. By allowing yourself to be an instrument of the Spirit, you witness for Christ; that is you become for others a friend of and for Christ.
Encounter
Then the LORD God said, "˜It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a him a helper as his partner.'" Genesis 2:18 "There is nothing on earth more to be prized than true friendship." Saint Thomas Aquinas
Go Forth
Reflect on the mentors in your life. How do these individuals affirm and challenge you? How can you be a mentor or a friend for Christ to someone at home or at work? What impact will this have on your relationship with God?