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...

The Catholic Church profoundly affirms the reality and importance of free will , seeing it not as a limitation on God's power, but as a testament to His immense love and respect for His creation. As St. Augustine of Hippo wisely observed, "God preferred not to use His own power, but to leave success or failure to the creature’s choice." This preference highlights a divine purpose: to allow rational creatures, both angelic and human, to experience the profound consequences of their choices and to demonstrate the "immense evil that flows from the creature's pride" alongside the "even greater good that comes from His grace." God's decision to grant us freedom is a loving invitation to participate in our own salvation, not an imposition. This gift of free will is intrinsically linked to our creation in God's image and likeness. St. Catherine of Siena beautifully articulates that God "moved Him to draw us out of Himself and give us, us, ...