Friendship & Love

A Reflection on the Psalm for July 24th, 2022:
​Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 138

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me. 

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the Angels I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness. 

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me. 

For you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. 

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me. 

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies. 

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me. 

You stretch out your hand and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. 

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

When reading scripture, I am always struck by how deeply God loves the lowly. He loves us all, of course, but He seems to have a special place in His heart for the poor, the weak, the struggling. The more someone in scripture is having a hard time, the more God is present. The psalmist cries out to God and hears from Him on the very same day. 

This has not always been my experience. There are times where I’ve been able to rest in God’s comfort during difficulties and strife, but I have to admit that there have also been times where I’ve felt like I was struggling alone. I vividly remember many years ago, after experiencing heartbreak, praying and calling on God and feeling as though my prayers went unanswered or ignored. I didn’t have any of the peace or trust the psalmist enjoys. 

What changed? Friends came to the rescue. It was clear that God was working through those who loved me. From long phone calls to emergency chocolate drop-offs, I experienced God’s goodness in the love of my friends. When my grief made me push others away, I felt alone; when I listened to God’s call and surrounded myself with support, His presence and warmth was palpable. 

This is no surprise. We are made in God’s image, and our God is fundamentally relational – He is one God in three persons. The friendship and love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are at the core of who God is. Each of us were designed by God in an act of love and joy, out of His desire to know and love us. Is it any wonder that my isolation felt lonely? We were simply not made to be alone. 

I see this hunger for community and belonging everywhere. We are blessed with technology that lets us connect to one another (I love how God uses the internet and social media to build community within Ora’s ministry, for example!), but in our day-to-day lives, many of us feel like we’re figuring it out all on our own. God made us for relationship, not isolation – relationship with Him, of course, and relationship with each other. Life gets busy and I find it easy to put off seeing friends a little longer, and a little longer... But these relationships are at the core of our faith – God calls us to gather together and shows us His love through the ways we love one another. 

This week, I encourage you to reach out. If you are feeling lonely or isolated, pray for the grace to ask for help – never easy, but always worth it. And if you have a friend or loved one who is going through a hard time, pray for God to work through you to bring His love to that person this week. 




Jenna Young

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