Every week, I look forward to the night when 2 friends come to reflect on the coming Sunday's gospel reading. It is a chance to listen to the Word of God and see what it means for our lives. It is a special time, so different from our normal conversations when we talk about the weather, our health or sporting events. We can stay at that superficial level without ever sharing on deeper matters. Do we have anyone with whom we can talk to about the meaning of life? What am I on earth for? What makes me happy or what are the things that do not satisfy me or are causing me sadness? Why is it so difficult to relate with some people? What are those feelings that I keep bottled up within me and don't want anyone to know about?
It needs a lot of personal freedom and complete trust in the other person to be able to open up and share our innermost feelings and thoughts. But it can be a rich life-giving and even life-changing experience.
Tomorrow we will talk about the new All Blacks, but I look forward to Wednesday when I can say to my friends, ''How have you been this week,'' knowing that I will get to know them much better as they share their joys and sorrows, and that they will listen when I share mine with them.
Fr Don Hornsey lives and works in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Shop
Comments (0)