Daily Readings - Fri Mar 01 2019
Sirach
5A sweet word multiplies friends and mitigates enemies. And thankful words abound in a good man6Allow many to be at peace with you, but allow one out of a thousand to be your counselor7If you would obtain a friend, test him before you accept him, and do not trust him readily8For there is a friend according to his own time, but he will not remain in the day of tribulation9And there is a friend who can be turned to animosity. And there is a friend who will reveal hatred and ridicule and insults10And there is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in a day of need11A friend, if he remains steadfast, will be to you as you are to yourself, and he will act with faithfulness among those of your household12If he humbles himself before you and hides himself from your face, you shall have a noble and harmonious friendship13Distance yourself from your enemies, and pay attention to your friends14A faithful friend is a strong shelter, and whoever has found one has found a treasure15Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity16A faithful friend is a medicine for life and immortality; and those who fear the Lord will find one17He who fears God will have a similar good friendship, because his friend will be like him
Mark
1And rising up, he went from there into the area of Judea beyond the Jordan. And again, the crowd came together before him. And just as he was accustomed to do, again he taught them2And approaching, the Pharisees questioned him, testing him: "Is it lawful for a man to dismiss his wife?3But in response, he said to them, "What did Moses instruct you?4And they said, "Moses gave permission to write a bill of divorce and to dismiss her.5But Jesus responded by saying: "It was due to the hardness of your heart that he wrote that precept for you6But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female7Because of this, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife8And these two shall be one in flesh. And so, they are now, not two, but one flesh9Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.10And again, in the house, his disciples questioned him about the same thing11And he said to them: "Whoever dismisses his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her12And if a wife dismisses her husband, and is married to another, she commits adultery.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the sacred bonds of relationship and the fidelity that sustains them. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded that true friendship is a gift from God, a treasure that requires trust, loyalty, and perseverance. The author warns us to test the mettle of those we call friends and to cherish those who stand by us through trials. A true friend, we are told, is a steadfast companion, a shelter in times of need, and a reflection of God’s faithfulness. This wisdom calls us to nurture our relationships with care and gratitude, recognizing that they are not merely human connections but also a way of experiencing God’s love.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the indissoluble union of marriage, emphasizing that it is not a human invention but a divine institution rooted in the order of creation. He challenges the Pharisees’ casual acceptance of divorce, insisting that marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman that reflects the unity and love of God. Just as a true friend is a gift, so too is a spouse. Jesus calls us to approach marriage with reverence, commitment, and fidelity, understanding that it is a vocation that mirrors the covenantal love of God for his people.
These readings remind us that all meaningful relationships—whether friendship or marriage—are rooted in God’s plan and call for us to live with fidelity and love. In a world where commitments are often fleeting, we are challenged to cherish and nurture the bonds that unite us. Let us ask ourselves: Am I a faithful friend? Am I a loyal spouse? Do I approach my relationships with the reverence and gratitude they deserve? May we seek to reflect God’s love in all our relationships, trusting that he will strengthen us to live with the fidelity and devotion that these sacred bonds require.