October 3.   Friends. A group of young married couples at their monthly meetings discussed practical issues as well as spiritual matters.  One month when they talked about friends it became quite heated.  His friends, her friends, their friends, old and new friends are an important part of a marriage because marriage can’t just be for the couple alone. However they were well aware that some of their pre-marriage friends and their expectations were no longer acceptable. “I can’t go and play soccer or golf every weekend any more, much as I would like to.  That is one of the sacrifices I have had to make”, Ben shared.   “But we can do a lot together as a couple too, to support and help our friends and others, whatever church they belong to, by our example and friendship.” Theresa said. Reflect, share, act. Scripture: At that time Jesus appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come.  He said to them. The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few, pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out labourers into his harvest. Luke 10:1-12.   Pope Francis.Christ the Lord “comes into the lives of married Christians through the Sacrament of Matrimony. Through his Spirit, he enables them to make their love permeate every part of their lives of faith, hope and charity. A bride and groom are consecrated and through his grace they build up the Body of Christ and are a domestic Church. The Church looks to the Christian family, which manifests her in a real way. God has given the family the job of “domesticating the world and helping each person to see fellow human beings as brothers and sisters. AL 183.  Eco-tip and prayer:  Examine your relationship with friends and your prayer life as a couple. How can it be enriched? What can you share with others?  Pray Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that walking together we may renew the face of the earth.