Learning to be Quick to Listen

From a Catholic perspective , social media and texting can be a great gift. It has made communication easier and faster. We can quickly share information or ask and answer questions with a simple text. It also allows people to express their thoughts in writing, which for some is easier than speaking in person. The ability to connect with people far away or to keep in touch with friends and family has never been more accessible, allowing us to build up our communities even when we're not physically together. While there are many positive aspects of social media, we also need to be mindful of its downsides. Digital communication can miss essential non-verbal cues like tone and body language. This can lead to misunderstandings, even when the person sending the message has good intentions. The written word can be easily misinterpreted, and once a message is sent, it can be saved forever. Receiving a text message can also activate a hit of dopamine , which may explain why a generation o...

As we journey through our everyday life, any day can be a powerful time to pause and reflect on the path that has led us to this very moment. When we look back at the trajectory of our lives, we can begin to see God's hand at work, guiding us through various situations and bringing specific people into our lives for a reason. What experiences have shaped you, and what choices have you made that have brought you here? This is not just a backward glance, but a look forward, too. Where is God calling you to be? Are you surrounded by people who lift you up in faith, or are there relationships that are dragging you down? This introspection can feel challenging, especially when we face our past mistakes and sins. But in this process, we can find a deeper understanding of God's mercy and a path forward that is more aligned with His will. This examination of our lives is a form of prayer, a conversation with God about our past, present, and future. Take some time to sit with the sa...

Our Savior, in the Gospel of Matthew, presents us with a profound choice: "Enter by the  narrow gate , for wide is the gate and broad the road leading to destruction, and many there are who go that route. But how narrow the gate and hemmed in is the road leading to life, and few there are who find it!" Saint Augustine  wisely unpacks this teaching, revealing two distinct paths before us: one wide and leading to death, the other narrow and leading to eternal life. It is a stark warning and a loving invitation. To choose the path of life means to actively turn away from the allure of the broad road, which, as Augustine explains, is "constantly traveled by swarms of people" indulging in vices and evil passions . This broad way, though seemingly offering many attractions and populated by the majority, ultimately leads to damnation. What then, defines this "roomy thoroughfare" of vice? It is the highway of shame and excess, frequented by multitudes who embrac...