How do we cultivate and maintain friendships in the Church? We need to care for others, just as Jesus perfectly modeled for us in His ministry and in His relationship with His disciples. We need to take a genuine interest in others, cultivating the art of listening well and sharing our lives with one another. There are many practical ways to build friendships with each other in the Church, and these include praying with and for each other, doing things together, sharing in each other's needs, and more. That being said, we do need to remember that no earthly horizontal friendship can fulfill all our needs. We ought to thank God for the gift of friendship, but ultimately, we can only find full satisfaction in our vertical relationship with Jesus. |
