These readings are so rich, but I have to limit myself to what struck me as in Lectio Divina. “To put it boldly, contemplation is the only ultimate answer to the unreal and insane world that our financial systems and our advertising culture and our chaotic and unexamined emotions encourage us to inhabit.” To which I would add the Internet and how it is used for great good and great evil. I have friends and grandchildren who are complete brainwashed by what they have read on the internet. It is like hypnosis where evil suggestions are inserted into the unconscious and folks don’t know why they are doing the crazy things they do. This leads to selfish, hateful and unloving acts. Is it any wonder that we seek contemplation to return to God fleeing all the idols of the world foisted on us by advertising, TV,movies and now Facebook, “X”, Tic Toc and Instagram. Thank God for CO. What a great gift Fr. Keating gave us. And CO generously follows his example to give it to the world using the Internet for good to overcome evil. Miracle of miracle, we know from the history of the world, since the beginning of time, good has always overcome evil, but always at tremendous sacrifice including the death of Jesus on the cross.
Why did I pick this quote? Because I have been formed to a great extent unconsciously not by the bombardment of love, joy and peace in my life, but by the modern day idols. They have formed “my chaotic and unexamined emotions.” Yet as the Psalm says, I can find peace and joy and God in the silence of my heart, in centering prayer. And then like Fr. Keating, I must share it. It is great that it changes me from selfishness to love, but do I then help good overcome evil as it has done down through history? That is my challenge to be like Fr. Keating. CO is the personification of Fr. Keating so his work goes on thank God. Not only to make each of us better, but to make the world better.
