The unbreakable bond between love of God and love of neighbour is emphasized.
One is so closely connected to the other that to say that we love God becomes a lie if we are closed to our neighbour or hate him altogether. Saint John’s words should rather be interpreted to mean that love of neighbour is a path that leads to the encounter with God, and that closing our eyes to our neighbour also blinds us to God.
– Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) #16
Luke 10:25-37
To fully appreciate the parable of the Good Samaritan, we must understand how deeply the Samaritans were resented by the Jews of Jesus’ day. The Samaritans were considered heretics who had “sold out” to a godless society. Yet the hero of the parable is neither the priest nor the Levite (both respectable Jews), but the Samaritan. Why? Because he lived by the law of authentic love, not distinctions of race and class. The good Samaritan was also a good steward, giving his time and his treasure to meet his neighbour’s need. At the end of this familiar story, Jesus urges His hearers – and us – to go and do the same!
– Fr John Conway
As a little reward to myself for finishing my latest uni assignment on time, I went and saw the latest Harry Potter movie with Jo today.
I haven’t read any of the books but I’ve seen all the movies up to this one, and I’ve noticed as the children get older the story gets darker.
Following Harry’s face off with the Lord Voldemort in Goblet of Fire, we return in Order of the Phoenix to find The Ministry of Magic in a state of fear and denial about the return of “the one who should not be named”. The Ministry discredits Harry and Dumbledore, and takes over the running of Hogwarts.
One of the more enjoyable parts of the movie for me was the establishment of “Dumbledore’s Army” – formed from the secret classes started by Harry and his friends after the Ministry alters the school’s curriculum to exclude any practice of magic.
Voldemort reappears at the Department of Mysteries, after tricking Harry into going there to find his “prophecy”. The prophecy orb breaks, but not before Harry learns what it says – one of them must die at the hand of the other! A battle ensues, the forces of Voldemort against the re-united Order of Phoenix, led by Sirius and Dumbledore. Sirius is taken from Harry.. and Voldemort escapes, but not before members of the Ministry see that he has returned and must acknowledge the truth.
Overall I’d have to disagree with author J.K. Rowling’s appraisal of this movie as “the best yet” (referenced on Wikipedia). The acting was great but the story seemed a little wishy washy in parts.
I had all these listed at the side of this page, but got sick of them taking up valuable screen real estate, so have moved them here. Mainly myspace sites – great way to uncover new musical tastes.
Anna Nalick, Bec Lavelle (does the music from McLeod’s Daughters), Ben Harper, Bob Evans (went to a Brisbane concert recently), Gyan (did a musical rendition of Leunig’s work), Incubus, Janis Ian (her article about music copyright was referenced in a course at uni, led me to her recordings – and I made a donation!), Jason Yates, Jon Stevens (saw him play Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar), Kate Miller-Heidke (a great cover of her song “Apartment” was done by local girls at a concert in Laidley), KT Tunstall, Mahalia Barnes (talented daughter of Jimmy), Nelly Furtado, Priscilla Ahn, Rogue Traders (“Izzy” from neighbours), Sarah Blasko, Schuyler Fisk, Susan Enan.
I didn’t know she could sing! Toni Collette has a beautiful voice. See clip on Youtube.
Adapted from the joke I found on this other blog.
Once, there was a very kind old barber in New York.
One day, a florist goes to him for a haircut. After the cut, he pays the barber but the barber replies “I’m sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.” The florist is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open his shop, there is a thank you card and a dozen of roses waiting at his door.
A policeman goes for a haircut and he also pays the barber after the cut. But again, the barber replies: “I’m sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.” The cop is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning, when the barber opens his shop, there was a thank you card and a dozen of donuts waiting at his door.
A university student goes for a haircut and he also pays the barber. The barber says: “I’m sorry. I cannot accept money from you. I am doing community service.” The university student is happy and leaves. The next morning, when the barber goes to open his shop, guess what he finds there:
A dozen university students waiting for a free haircut!
Sasha is taking up to six pills a day for her heart now – Vetmedin and Frudix in the morning, again in the evening plus Fortekor and a heart worm tablet. The vet actually suggested we could stop giving her the heart worm pills, since she doesn’t believe Sash will live long enough for it to ever become a problem 🙁 but H reckons that is just being pessimistic, and as long as it doesn’t harm her to keep taking them, we shall keep giving it to her.
With all these pills it was becoming difficult to get them all down her little throat. The vet suggested crushing them, mixing with honey and smearing around Sasha’s mouth so she would lick it off. That idea didn’t really appeal to us. Then H hit on the brilliant idea to wrap the pills in leftover mashed potato, and it works amazingly well.
Sasha loves it. She used to spit the pills out all the time when we tried to get them down her throat, but now we just offer her the mashed potato ball (with pills inside) and she gobbles it up, no problem!