In this world of the 24-hour news cycles and the constant conjecture of talking heads, it becomes easy for the common observer to take in information and only make negative judgments, constantly rejecting this or that rather than embracing the good through a process of discovery. Instead of letting what Lord has given us in creation and in our families speak to us, we react negatively to things that exist beyond our reach and this ultimately forms our opinions and thoughts. 

Our Lord calls us in an attractive way with his ever-present words. He invites us to embrace Him and the love He has for us. In the Gospel, He tells us: I am the way the truth and the life. (John 14:6) He does not simply say: I will show you the way out from falsehood. Rather he offers us the opportunity to follow him in a way that appeals to what is most attractive to us, what he offers is true, beautiful, and gives us a wonderful purpose in the divine plan. 

God shows us the good we should choose; we need not create our own preferences from a reactionary perspective. We are called to accept what is good which is not just a rejection of what is bad. As rational beings we have the faculties to observe and judge for ourselves. We also have the ability to seek out truth–the desire for which burns within us. This deep desire has a fulfillment and an ultimate end which is not in the commotion of the world, it can only be from the peace and love of God. 

We must embrace the times when the Lord is speaking to us, and be open to what He has to say. The Love of God does not come to us through the many soundbites and articles around us, we must rather seek out this peace and go to the Lord where he is closest to us, in the quiet depths of our heart. Much like the prophet Elijah’s experience, we cannot be frustrated when the Lord is not in the earthquake—we must have the patience to stay and listen for the Lord in the quiet (1 Kings 19:11-13).

How often are we using the gift of choosing the good to take steps towards being open to the Lord’s voice in our daily life? Are we making time to listen, or do we allow ourselves to be frustrated by the overwhelming noise that causes despair when God does not seem to be speaking where and how we want him to? 

The Lord promises: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28) Let us go towards that rest rather than allowing ourselves to be worked up and overwhelmed.

Especially today it can seem that our day passes like a whirlwind before we even know what is happening. We can take consolation in meditating on the motto St. Bruno left for his order, the Carthusians, who are known for their silent life of prayer: Stat crux dum volvitur orbis – the Cross is steady while the world turns. We can trust in the stability of the Cross of our faith. We can trust that it will remain true through all of the twists and turns that the world causes in our daily life. Let us lay these stresses and worries at the foot of the ever-steady Cross. It can be tempting to think that the answer is in the next news story or Facebook post, but we must keep our eyes on the Lord—fixed on the immovable truth named Christ.

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Photo by Br. Pius Henry, O.P. (used with permission)