Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I have thinking about friendship this week. My best man called out of the blue on Sunday evening to catch up on our lives. Eric and I first became friends on the first day of school in 7th grade. For 25 years we have maintained our friendship. I have little doubt that Eric knows more about my what makes me tick that anyone outside of my dad and my wife. Our friendship has persevered despite the fact that we have not lived in the same city since 1992.
For today's Great Texts class meeting, I assigned my students to read Book 8 of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. The Philosopher, as Thomas Aquinas simply referred to him, classified three kinds of friendship. There are friendship of utility and of pleasure. In these kinds of friendship, we are attracted to someone because of the affection they give to us. They provide some good to us that is useful or pleasant to us. Most friendships fall into this category. They are not permanent, but last for a season.
The third kind of friendship is between those who not only receive good from the other, but wish for the other's good. True friends encourage each other towards virtue and excellence in their personal and civic endeavors. These friendships are exceedingly rare, because it is based on equality of means and goods.
At the end of class, I challenged my students to consider friendship in the light of the Christian gospel. Is there a theology of friendship? Perhaps Paul had Aristotle in mind when he asked the Philippians, true companions whom he loves and longs for, to help Euodia and Syntyche. A true friend encourages his friends to contemplate things that are just and excellent. Paul offers a model of Christian friendship that seems complimentary to Aristotle's vision of persons helping each other towards virtue and excellence, for the benefit of the community.
Aristotle did not conceive of an individual pursuit towards virtue. Such activity was intrinsically communal. Similarly, Paul did not conceive of Christians individually pursuing discipleship. The Church is the corporate body of believers led by the Spirit of love, not a voluntary association of individuals seeking solitary goods.
This Lent, let us meditate on our need for friendship, as we journey together towards the cross.
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