9 th October 2005 –
28 th Sunday, Year A

S: Good morning, today we’re on about friendship and how important it is to be a real friend.

B: So many people are crying out for friendship - someone to talk to and to trust - and trust really is the backbone of real friendships isn’t it?

S: Our “Word of Life” for today comes from the prophet Isaiah, “The Lord will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food and fine wines”.

This image from Isaiah, which also comes up in the psalms and Gospel, brings to our attention, if you like, the tremendous generosity of God.

B: I suppose really as God is generous with us - he expects us to be generous to one another and one of the ways we can be generous is through friendship.

 S: and so the question comes up then - how can one be a real friend?

Here are 10 suggestions

B: 1. Focus on what you can give to a friend, not what you get out of a friendship.

S: 2. Do not let disagreements destroy your friendships.

B: 3. Encourage your friends.

S: 4. If you see a friend making mistakes, tactfully point them out.

B: 5. Be there for both the good and bad times.

S: 6. Be willing to forgive.

B: 7. Do not be a blabbermouth.

S: 8. Learn to accept personality differences in your friends.

B: 9. Do not try to control you friend.

S: 10. Be reliable.

B: We have a nice reflection for you today and its called “True Friendship”

A Friend.

A person who goes with you for a while along the same road.

Two friends do not look at each other as much as they both look forward. They do not seek each other; they seek together what each needs.

Anyone who demands everything from friendship falls into jealousy and isolation.

A true friend helps you to get on with your own life and do what you want to do.

So they will never hold you back or drag you away from the right road in your own life.

Real friends do not let you down either on good days or bad.

They stay near in joy and pain, in power and weakness.

We have to hide many things from outsiders because the outside world will not tolerate weakness.

But when friends are close it is possible for us to be honest and open.

B: You’ve been listening to Just a thought with Brenda Cribbin

S: and Seamus Madigan. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Offices at 66 O’ Connell Street or by e-mailing smadigan@limerickdiocese.org. If you would like your own copy of this reflection you can download it by clicking on limerickdiocese.org

B: We look forward to your company again next week, so in the meantime - take care…..

S& B: Byeeeeee……

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