Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Sirach 6,5-17

A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous tongue invites many a friendly response. Let your acquaintances be many, but for advisers choose one out of a thousand. If you want to make a friend, take him on trial, and do not be in a hurry to trust him; for one kind of friend is so only when it suits him but will not stand by you in your day of trouble. Another kind of friend will fall out with you and to your dismay make your quarrel public, and a third kind of friend will share your table, but not stand by you in your day of trouble: when you are doing well he will be your second self, ordering your servants about; but, if disaster befalls you, he will recoil from you and keep out of your way. Keep well clear of your enemies, and be wary of your friends. A loyal friend is a powerful defence: whoever finds one has indeed found a treasure. A loyal friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A loyal friend is the elixir of life, and those who fear the Lord will find one. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a person is, so is his friend too.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Sirach offers us a picture of friendship which helps us live the relationships with our neighbours according to the Bible. The text begins by showing an aspect of friendship which has to do with words: kindness and affability in speaking "multiplies friends" and builds friendship; hardness and rudeness on the contrary will never do. The exhortation to be at peace with everyone is wise, "but your advisers be one in a thousand." Indeed, there is a diversity in friendship, which does not convey distance or judgment, because everything must be marked by a peaceful relationship. There is a work in building friendship, which is put to the test especially in difficult moments. "And there are friends who sit at your table, but they will not stand by you in time of trouble," that is there are friends who are there in the nice moments, but they will be ashamed of your humiliation. But the text ends praising the "faithful" friend, for whom there is no price, who is "a safe refuge", a "treasure", "medicine which gives life." Friendship requires time and attention. Let us recall that Jesus himself called his disciples "friends" and no longer "slaves," and that "Abraham and Moses are called friends of God." This is why the passage ends by connecting faithful and true friendship to the "fear of the Lord": "Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright." Indeed, it is before God that each of us will receive the wisdom to live in friendship and to build bonds and relations with others. We could say that friendship is a great medicine for loneliness and victory over egocentrism, because it moulds us according to the humanity of God, friend of all men and women.