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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me find ways to settle arguments with friends peacefully! Amen.

"If a friend hurts you," Jesus said, "talk to her about it alone. If that doesn't work, tell someone else. If she won't listen, tell the church; and if she still won't pay attention, ignore her like a stranger. Pray together and God will listen, because wherever people gather in my name, I'm with them."

Plans always change at this time of year. School is starting, which means everything is busier; the weather can be summer-hot one day and cold and rainy the next. You never know if you'll be swimming in the pool or running inside to escape a thunderstorm, going to a movie or staying home because you're inundated with homework.

This week's Gospel (Matthew 18:15-20) talks about changing plans. People were asking Jesus how to handle arguments, and He said it depended on the situation.

Like a sunny day can turn into a thunderstorm, Jesus said that good friends can turn into angry people who aren't agreeing on anything - so the thing to do is be open to changing your plans.

First, He said, talk directly to your friend. That might resolve the whole thing. If that doesn't work, sitting down with an adult or another person you trust is good, because the person can listen to both sides and help you listen to each other. Jesus also suggested talking to someone from church and praying about it.

Changing your plans and cancelling your plans aren't the same thing. Sometimes, you get upset because life is not happening exactly the way you want it to, and you give up entirely: If you can't go to the movies tonight, you won't see that movie at all!

When it comes to arguments, Jesus said to only "cancel" a friendship as a last resort, after you've tried everything else. Arguments happen; that's life. But Jesus didn't want us to give up too easily when our plans change![[In-content Ad]]

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