Truth of the Spirit with Patti Brunner shares the Lord’s advice on relationships with TOS214 God’s Whispers about Friendship. “In the time of isolation during the pandemic, friendships suffered. Without the social and meeting interactions there was a sort of withdrawal into the shell…” To follow the script and the Lord’s words in italics and to listen to audio or watch please continue.
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During a Day of Reflection Fr. Erik Pohlmeier, who will soon be ordained Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, encouraged us to start a personal reflection on relationship with God with these questions:
- When you think about love, what do you hunger for?
- Who in your life has given you an experience of unconditional love?
The Lord has been teaching me about relationships. Today Truth of the Spirit will share God’s Whispers about Friendship. I am your host, Patti Brunner. These words are personal revelation and should be discerned in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church. Our cover today is a group of five couples that met in 1976 who remained good friends for many years.
I asked the Lord to teach me more about friendship. The Lord told me: “Most great friends have a common bond. They can be quite different in various aspects of their lives but there will be a ‘connection’. It can be environmental but is most likely something deeper than that as well as more distinct or unique.” The Lord whispered to me: “When you made friends with the 5 couples who prepared together for the birth of a child, you came from different walks of life and locations yet you bonded by the desire to give your children the best start in life by a healthy delivery. You were similar in age and interests and no one of you was greater or lesser in preparation of the experience. You grew together. Yet, as your children grew your group grew apart.
“Some have relationships—friends—that last a lifetime because the bond that holds you together doesn’t change very much and growth and maturity is matched. Experiences shared together strengthen these bonds. Often relationships formed because of a single interest will discontinue when other interests take priority. To form long-lasting relationships there needs to be two things: a bond interest and a sharing of experiences separate from that initial bond. Friendly acquaintances on a ball team or within a bible study fade when the ‘season’ is complete. A mix of social events and ‘meeting-type events’ provides a base to share and to ‘be yourself’ with others.”
The Church celebrates the feast of the Visitation on May 31. The Lord explained their friendship to me: “Elizabeth and Mother Mary did not have a bond of age; Mary was barely a teen when Elizabeth was old and past child-bearing, yet they were related by family—cousins. They thus shared the bond of knowing various family members. A key bond that brought them together was their miraculous first pregnancies. They bonded over the mystifying spiritual experiences and the Presence of the Holy Spirit as they met. They also bonded in their training in the ways of the Lord by the teachers of faith and the scriptures. One might think they spoke about Ruth and her children and grandchildren. Elizabeth probably shared her knowledge of pregnant women and births and they both would share their hopes and dreams about their unborn sons. They would also pray for one another and thank God for each other. These were strong bonds yet were for a season as distance and age continued to separate them.
The Lord whispered: “When you have a really good friend for only a season, remember these two. Do not be sad, but give God the glory for the time you held together. You will not be the same. A friendship like this is part of your unique formation.
A few months ago the Lord told me: Whenever you speak of the Blessed Mother it is a good thing. She is never ‘off track’. My daughter, my sister, my mother—these relationships set an example for the world to follow. Disciple, apostle, servant—these too were her attributes and allowed her to be a role model on earth and for all generations that followed.
Yes, she was prophesied as a prototype not only of womanhood but of mankind. Obedience, humility, strength-standing-fortitude, loving these attributes came from her personal will as she said “yes” her “fiat”. Spirit-filled, pure, holy –these were my gifts to her that I offer to all who turn their face to me and accept them with obedience, humility and fortitude.
The Lord said to me for today’s episode: “In the time of isolation during the pandemic, man’s friendships suffered. Without the social and meeting interactions there was a sort of withdrawal into the shell—like a tortoise who carries his abode upon his back. Yet, have you ever come across an old friend and started a conversation that seemed like you had never been apart?
“This is the type of relationship you can have with God. You can pick up where you left off—when you left God. God did not leave. He abides wherever you run and hide. The problem is that you may have chosen not to abide in Him.
“Repentance and reconciliation will bring you right back into His arms and the Holy Spirit will help you to recover from your time apart.
The Lord continued, “Anytime a friendship ends—no matter the cause—it affects your future relationships. One that ends badly will cause you to form a barrier towards others. One that ends because of death reminds you of the fragility of life. One that ends because of distance can lead you to be guarded from new friendships.
The Lord then promised: “My love will never die. I will never move away. I will never leave you or forsake you even if you are offensive towards me or make serious mistakes. We can have eternity,” the Lord said, “discovering each other and the common ground of love.”
We recently posted an episode on community to talk about Small Church Communities. These can be a great source to make new friends and grow with friends.
A few years ago the Lord taught me: “My child, you know that all prayer is communication with God. The aspects of petition, praise, adoration, Blessing and search shows intent. Intercession during prayer asked for favor for others. Sometimes the person with needs can’t or won’t ask for my help. As Jesus stood in the gap caused by sin, so too, you can be a bridge or a conduit of my graces for others. Prayer is an intimate connection in relationship. Have you ever introduced a good friend to another? This is also called evangelization–when you work to bring the two together. When you intercede to ask for healing, you make available the transmission of grace intensity by standing in the gap that had limited our connection.”
Today the Lord asks us questions before giving us a few keys to friendship: “The Cursillo movement taught: Be a friend, make a friend, take a friend to Jesus. Where are those friends in your life? How have they influenced you? How have you befriended others? How do you “be a friend”? There are many opportunities to serve others in the Church. Yet, are you a friend of those you serve? Being a servant is less than being a friend. You can isolate yourself and yet be a servant of others. A key of friendship is vulnerability; time is another key. Communication is a requirement. In the mix of these is the common bond.”
Time is a precious commodity in our lives, isn’t it! A few years ago the Lord taught me: “My child, the living word of God directs your path by example. Fear not the lack of time to accomplish every dot and tittle. I am with you. The connection you seek between time and work has been an issue for many throughout time. The time is there – it is the spending of it that draws the focus away.
Today the Lord teaches us: “All it takes is a small step to welcome others of like-mind and then bring Me. Lives can change, lives can grow, lives can find freedom and support. I Am who Am; I Am with you.”
As we study the Catechism there isn’t a section titled “Friends”. The closest it gets is “Fraternal Harmony” and “Love of Neighbor”. Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 815 asks and answers: “What are these bonds of unity? Above all, charity “binds everything together in perfect harmony.” 265 But the unity of the pilgrim Church is also assured by visible bonds of communion: – profession of one faith received from the Apostles; – common celebration of divine worship, especially of the sacraments; – apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders, maintaining the fraternal concord of God’s family. 266”
More than once I have asked the Lord to help me to be friendlier, a friendlier person. The Lord has responded with: “My child, whenever you seek the Lord I am to be found. The energy to seek Me is also needed to seek the friendship with others.
Charismatic Conference Speaker Dr. Mary Healy touched on the benefit of having friends when she spoke in Tulsa teaching us to “Be a part of someone’s miracles”. She shared, “In some healings people don’t know Jesus or have faith but most often Jesus looks for participation of faith. Faith is not passive but active in Gospels—they look for him, even overcoming obstacles. Intercession is bringing friends to Jesus like the four friends of the paralytic. Faith perseveres, it is tenacious. If you don’t have faith you can borrow it from your friends.”
In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 47 [1-10] we hear the story of “The Healing of a Centurion’s Slave.” It goes: “1* When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum.* 2A centurion* there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” 6 And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sentfriends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. 7 Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.” Do you have the kind of friends that can be sent to communicate with Jesus?
Quite a while back I heard a speaker on Relevant Radio suggest to identify a person who would be an ideal friend and then become that ideal. Sounds like a difficult challenge to me. Yet we surely want to be the best of who God created us to be. The Lord asks us: “Who are you? What do you choose to be?” Then the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to be who God created us to be by inner healing and overcoming fear and all obstacles.
It is not too late. A few years ago the Lord shared with me: “My child, in the winter of your life it will be more difficult to complete various tasks. Take up those challenges and choices and see how your own can then benefit others. Most people who are healthy plan to live forever—but they don’t really consider the eternal living in the Kingdom of God. Death can catch the unprepared ‘off guard’. They worry about earthly things: financial, resources, living arrangements, ‘stuff’, health, daily living decisions. Yet most people on their death bed are concerned about dying. This, if it is a fear, shows that the soul is unprepared, when time for ‘mending fences’ and forgiveness slips away. It is the survivors who focus on the material things.” The Lord told me: “List your friends and family. Consider what is undone or unsaid in your relationship with them that needs to be said or done to bring healing to your relationships. Note that this will also help heal your relationship with God. This (relationship with God) is the most important item on a ‘Bucket’ list.”
Paul give us great advice that can help us to make and keep friends in Romans Chapter 12. “9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.” This gives us an idea of friendship.
I believe that God is calling us to deeper relationships. Relationships with friends show us a model of the relationship God is calling us to have with Him.
We will end with this whisper from the Lord: “My Child, the Church, indeed the whole world benefits by the inspired Word of the Lord set down for all to see, read and hear through the Sacred Scriptures. My voice has been discerned through the ages as the Way to follow. When I speak into the hearts of my people, it is to form an intimate relationship, a friendship, a fatherhood, a connection even beyond words, a joining of hearts, and minds in the Holy Spirit. Certainly people can attain this through Sacred Scriptures when they open their heart and mind to Me. It is a living Word. As the Church professes the Word of God, and as the Gospel is proclaimed, lives can be changed.
“Remember, inspired Word as established by the Church is part of the Revelation of Christ Jesus, the revelation that is complete. When you hear the voice of the Lord in your heart it is not new to the world, but it awakens in you the truth that always was and always will be.”
You have been listening to Truth of the Spirit and “God’s Whispers about Friendship”. I am Patti Brunner. We invite you to check out our free YouTube channel to find other ‘Whispers’ from the Lord in various playlists. You can also access them and this episode at PatriarchMinistries.com/214. And then come back for more. With the Holy Spirit, there’s always more! Amen.
