S18 E20 - Friendship in the Lord: Friendship is Two People Growing (Chapters 3 & 4)

In this episode, we continue our book study on Friendship in the Lord and reflect on the ways God invites us to grow through the relationships He has entrusted to us. We talk about the importance of rightly ordered love, why true friendship always draws our gaze toward Christ, and the beauty of virtuous friendships between men and women. We also talk honestly about the fears, wounds, and misunderstandings that can arise in friendship, and the importance of repair in deepening a friendship. Friendship is not about finding someone to complete us, but about walking together toward holiness while helping one another become who God created us to be.

Other Resources Mentioned:

Restore the Glory Podcast on Confession

Announcement:

You can buy your copy from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).

Journal Questions:

When have I experienced healthy and holy friendship between men and women? Where is my gaze within my friendships? Do any of my friendships serve a higher purpose than just the friendship itself? When have I experienced enmeshment or avoidance within friendships? Do I prioritize my most important relationships? Who has the Lord especially entrusted to me?

Discussion Questions:

How are you pursuing a friendship with the Lord? Do you think that men and women can have virtuous friendships? When have you unhealthily looked to a friendship to satisfy all your needs? Have you ever felt spread too thin in your friendships? Which example of holy friendship from the book resonates with you?

Quote to Ponder:

"Just as love for neighbor proceeds from love for God, so does faith concerning creatures proceed from this love, whether it be general faith or special faith. As there's a general faith corresponding to the love which we ought to feel in general to every creature, so there is a special faith belonging to those who love one another more intimately, like the faith which has established a close particular love between us two." (St. Catherine of Siena)

Scripture for Lectio: