Today’s readings
Today we hear about the amazing power of spiritual friendship. If it were not for Jonathan, Saul would have murdered David not just in the story we heard today, but many times. The Lord’s rejection of Saul was driving him to madness, and, as many insecure people do, he was doing everything possible to sabotage the one who was making him look bad. But Jonathan’s intervention changed things, and David lived to become a great king.
But I’m not just extolling friendship alone here. Make no mistake; friendship is a good thing. But I said this reading was about the amazing power of spiritual friendship. Spiritual friendship has its basis in God’s grace, and is definitely a gift from God. A spiritual friendship is a kind of companionship in which the companions, in their affection for one another, lead each other to God. Jonathan and David did that in many ways, and the fruit of that was that Jonathan protected David’s vocation to be king. Spiritual friends always bring out the best in each other; they help each other become what God created them to be.
Today, pause and be grateful for those who have been spiritual friends to you. Think of those who have helped you become what God created you to be; those whose encouragement has brought you closer to God. May God bless those who have been a blessing to us.