Better with Friends

Luke 6:17-19

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

So far in Luke, Jesus has been gathering together an inner circle, people he will entrust by giving them deeper teaching, people as we will see that he will send out on their own mission. This gathering process has been a solo activity on Jesus’ part, a lonely process. During this gathering process, Jesus has been a solitary figure, working alone.

With Luke 6:17, there is a new tone. Jesus has chosen the 12 disciples – the inner circle. They come down the mountain and stand together as a team. Yes, Jesus is clearly the leader, but there are other people with him. From now on they will be known as Jesus’ disciples (Luke says apostles). Publicly Jesus is acknowledging the importance of this group not only for the future of the mission he is on, but also acknowledging their importance as companions with him as he travels and teaches and heals.

Even Jesus needed friends, companions, on the road of life, on the mission he was on. As COVID has revealed, loneliness is a huge challenge in our world. We are invited to be companions to others – to both invite others to join us (we cannot do it alone) and join with others (joining their circles). We are called to companion with other people on the spiritual journey of life, it is not to be a solitary journey.

PRAYER:

Lord God, your Son, Jesus, chose companions to join him during his journey through life. Give us, we pray, people who will be our companions as we walk this life. And call us to be companion to others, who also need friends as they walk their life’s journey. These things we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.