BLOG: Deacon-structing,
The last two weeks we’ve been looking at love (part 1 and part 2). Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love neighbour (Matthew 22:36-40). He also said we have to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Last week we looked at seven qualities of love. Today let’s begin by ...read more
Last week we looked at how we really have no idea what love is and how inefficient our language is to describe this amazing thing (and command) that we call “love”. We came up with seven qualities of love or love types: 1. Agape (love of God or God’s love) 2. Philial (fraternal love; could ...read more
Would you say that there are love problems? Does love cause problems? Problems with misunderstanding love? Read on and find out why! ...read more
The phrase “my friend Jesus” brings up memories of the 70s and playing folk music at Mass. But what can Jesus teach us about friendship? Last week we looked at a very important quality of friendship: Faithfulness. A good friend sticks with you through thick and thin. They may not be able to help you ...read more
Pope Francis greets victims of violence outside the Vatican nunciature in Bogota, Colombia, Sept. 8. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) Some of the most moving encounters that the Holy Father had in Colombia went mostly under-reported. Some of these took place each evening at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bogotá, where he was staying. At the gathering with ...read more
Some of you would say that friends stick together; they are loyal. Last week we looked a trust and gossiping and I shared a real handy formula for knowing when to say or not to say something to a friend or about a friend- this is especially helpful in this day and age of social ...read more
Do your friends think? Last time we began looking at some qualities that should be part of a friendship: trust, honesty, fun and time. We also saw that in the Gospel of Matthew (5:22), Jesus speaks about forgiveness as a good quality in friendship. Today we’re going to see how friends think. But first, here’s ...read more
Most of the time, as kids, we don’t have much choice in our friends. But if we did, what would you look for? What friend qualities would you look for? Last week I called friendship a sacramental, because, like all sacramentals (like a Rosary, prayer card of holy medal), it is something that points us ...read more
Friends: We all have them and we all want them. We love them; we want to kill them. I’ve heard that friends are good for us: they make us healthier and they even make us more attractive! Can friends point us to God? Of course, right? But is that what you look for in a ...read more
A month ago, at age 82, my mother died. As much as I know that my mom was a woman of deep faith and belief in Eternal Life, I’m finding it hard. I’m usually OK, until someone asks me how I am. My mom was also a public figure. She was a ballet dancer and ...read more