Both the readings of today are about relationship - friendship and marriage. Both these phenomena are miraculous, signs of God's presence in the world. Neither of them just happens. Sirach gives us good advice on how to find and be a true friend and Jesus tells us how to form a true marriage. It takes a lot of "I dos" for a man and a woman to become a husband and wife. It takes a lot of self-abnegation to be a true friend. Each "I do" and "I will" is a pledge, a recommitment, a renewal. We become friends and/or spouses through our self-giving as well as our self-pledging. We do it when we give and when we forgive. We also do it when we receive and we are forgiven.

The readings also tell us we do not do this alone. Families and individuals must actively encourage the growth of friendships and marriages with love and encouragement, a ready heart and an open ear. Never work to separate what God has joined also means to work to keep together what God has brought together. Rely on God and God's power. Rely on those around you too.

Yet none of us are perfect friends and not every couple who are pronounced man and wife actually become man and wife. When we fail we seek forgiveness of God and each other and we begin again as best we can.