Christian friendship (children’s Mass)
Dear children, this morning in the gospel today, we read about a man who was paralyzed. That means he could not get up, he could not walk, or move, or anything. he just laid in bed all day. Well when his friends heard about Jesus in town, they told him, we are going to take you to the Lord! So they put him on a stretcher, and carried him down the street. But there were such crowds that they could not get into the house. The paralyzed man said, ‘its no use, we might as well go home.’ ‘No said his friends, and they got ladders, and began to climb up to the roof. Then they dragged that man up those ladders to the top; then they cut a hole in the roof with a saw, and lowered the man down inside, to Jesus.
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So there he was, on a stretcher, hanging from the ceiling by ropes, swaying back and forth in front of Jesus; Our Lord gazed up at the hole above, to see the faces of his friends. He was very proud of those boys who did all of this for their friend – so he cured him then and there.
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My question for you today is, what kind of friends do you have? Do we have good friends? And also, how do we make friends? Friendship is very important to us as we grow up. We are usually friends with people who like the same things we like, we do things together, share in games and activities, and enjoy being together because we are, kind of alike. Most of the time friendships just happen by accident.
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But you know, it would be very good if we THINK about who our friends are, not just let it happen. Let me give you an example. Suppose one student is kind of quiet, and so we don’t talk to that person very much. But then we think, he might be a very interesting person, maybe we actually have a lot in common. So you say, ‘hey, would you like to play this game with me at recess?’ or maybe you ask that person for help on your assignment. Many times we are surprised, and we make a new friend – but we had to think about it, and ask that person.
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Another time that we should think about being a friend, is if another student say, does not seem to have a friend, or other kids pick on a student – then we could go and be a friend for that person, so that they feel happy. I knew one student who was very sad, but when another boy became his friend, he was happy every day. This is what Jesus would like us to do, to help others.
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Good friends listen to each other, and they don’t hurt the other person’s feelings, and they stick up for each other. Let’s say there is a party you really want to go to; you get invited, but they told your friend that he is not invited? What would you do? I think we should stay with our friend, and if they won’t invite him, then I’m not going either.
Friends are also dependable. That means if you tell your friend you will be at this place at a certain time, you make sure you are there.
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How can you tell when a friendship is bad? A friendship is bad when it is based on foolish or sinful things. If someone is your friend just because you have beautiful hair, or if you are friends with someone just because they have nice clothes, or because a boy is quite handsome – well, these are not good reasons to be a friend. If your friend wants you to do things that are sins, then you should get rid of that friend. If he says, we should go to such and such a movie or place, even though your parents don’t want it – then you should tell him – I am a Christian, but you are not: goodbye!
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If your friend uses bad language, or does not love God, then we should be through with him. Bad friendships cause us to give up praying and forget about God – they are no good, but pure and good friends make us modest, and courteous, and help us to do what God wants.
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Therefore, let us have good friends, and pray for them each day. If we have good friends, they will still be our friends when we get to heaven.
