God...our theological E.F.Hutton!

By Hugh McNichol
Op/Ed

There used to be a television commercial that invoked the name of the financial planning conglomerate E.F.Hutton and when he spoke people...listened! Madison Avenue and its writers created this very effective ad campaign to illustrate the importance of relying on a sound financial advisor to plan for all of life's events. We have a similar response in the teachings of the Church, however more times than not most people just shrug off the teachings of J.C.the Messiah as nothing more than pious platitudes in a world of technological individualism. That is really a shame.

Today, more so than ever the teachings of the Gospel are relevant in an ever expanding world, that is shrinking the delays of communications across time zones and national borders on a daily basis. Text messaging, email, cellular phone calls, faxes, I.M,s and a cornucopia of devices are used every single day to communicate all types of information. My question however is this: Are we listening? If every email and text communication we received was a potentially lucrative stock tip from E.F.Hutton, there is no doubt in my mind that we would all be listening with great interest and then fire up the PC for an online transaction. But are we listening to the important spiritual and moral messages that are instantly messaged to our hearts and souls and consciences through both the Word of God and His Sacraments. Perhaps all of the external electronic technologies are short circuiting our antennae of our consciences and hearts.

One aspect of my life that has been very difficult to change is the constant barrage of the presumed need for constant conversation and stimulation through modern technologies. The physical act of, "Listening" is not always something that is easily accomplished, especially if there is a world of cacophonic sounds, attached to all sorts of devices that mute out the volume of God's message to each of us. I am convinced that on a regular basis, every Catholic needs to "turn-off" all of the static sounds of our lives and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in complete silence. Now that really seems like an oxymoron...hearing the Holy Spirit in silence. Well as contradictory as this might sound...silence is a great conduit to communicate with God. I often think that if God communicated with us in a manner like the local news media and public relations firms, advertising agencies...how abrasive and ineffectual such communications would be. God would be almost like the Orwellian, Big Brother transmitting divine proclamations through the large telescreen located everywhere within physical sight. God though is really too savvy a theological powerhouse to use such mundane and glitzy technology...he uses our hearts and consciences as the vehicle for his Sacred communications.

This time of the year we are always running around, being bombarded with external stimuli that often are not focus upon any possible understanding and appreciation of God's divine Word. As Catholics, we need to change that harried secular perception and LISTEN in prayerful silence to God's messages of peace and harmony to a world that is frequently marred by so many tragic events and activities.

It does not have to be elaborate, I challenge everyone out there to set aside 15 minutes a day of silent prayer, either before the Blessed Sacrament, or in a quiet space to listen to the message our Eternal Father is speaking to us on a daily basis. Let's get back to not only the basics of understanding our faith, but also to the basics of good prayer...God speaks and inspires and we listen. As a goal, perhaps the entire Catholic community should foster a day of prayer for world peace and understanding. Not a day cluttered with activities and events and liturgies, but a day of silence prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in all of the churches throughout the world. Perhaps then we could listen long enough to treat God's Word like the sage advice of E.F.Hutton and just...listen!

Contact

TriNet Technologies Consultants Inc
http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspo.com DE, US
Hugh McNichol - Author, 302 6339348

Email

hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

Keywords

God

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »