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to mystic institute.org. I'm particularly delighted with this weekend's topic, friendship,

in general, but also friendship with God. But as a good Thomas, to get to a proper understanding

of friendship with God, we first have to understand what friendship

is. St. Thomas would ask us and invites us to break it down that way. To begin with what we know

best, and most easily, in order to climb, ascend to understanding realities that are less

immediate to us, less apparent, but no less real, for

there being less apparent. So something like friendship with God. I mean, who would never

think such a thing, or even possible, outside of the Christian religion? But given that

is the high end to which we're called, how do we even begin to understand that?

Aquinas would invite us to say, well, first of all, let's not try to jump in immediately to the deep end of the pool.

Let's go to the shallow part.

We all know what friendship is, and let's begin there with a – and just explore what it is that friendship is.

And then we can begin to think about and contemplate,

and hopefully by that contemplation,

enter into the great mystery by grace,

to which we're called friendship with God.

I'll begin with the question of it.

Who do you think introduces friendship into Christian reflection,

...