A constant theme in my writings over the past months has involved two elements:

 

(1) That we must stay in the “present” within our consciousness, giving our full attention to what is real so as to live with an awareness of truth at all times.

 

We do that by focusing on our true nature (corrupted and sinful); our true purpose in life (to serve and obey God faithfully to get to heaven by accepting and remaining in the grace and Holy Spirit of God, and to help others do the same); and to embrace the truth of God being our Creator and Father, having given his only begotten and eternal Son Jesus to us to open the gates of heaven and forge a way home for us through his most sorrowful passion, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of the Father, and will come to earth again to judge both the living and the dead.

 

The second element in my recurring spiritual approach to dealing with the dynamics of evil in our world today can be summarized as follows:

 

(2) The nature of society today is now one of “lawlessness”. Although I have not articulated in any great detail the repercussions of that on our own individual psychology and spirituality, trust me, the consequences are indeed radical, especially in terms of how collectively it has ushered in a new social ethos where the value of relationships and the bonds of community are dissolving with many people; sometimes consciously and by decision, but mostly as a result of IGNORANCE resulting from failing to do what I’ve outlined in number one!

When we live in the present we’re safe spiritually, but both our memory and imagination are faculties of our mind subject to demonic influences. In a social state of lawlessness they are now pushing us hard to be fearful, preoccupied with self, and increasingly guarded and defensive with others, willing to risk less by trusting.

One of the psychological consequences you may have observed as these deadly dynamics operate more and more in our society, increasingly changing and transforming us into less-caring people, is how many of the previously-trustworthy people in your life no longer seem concerned to honour their word.

 

This can easily create hard feelings and even end long-standing relationships, especially when we make assumptions that are false , ie. “human wisdom,” which is, in fact, IGNORANCE, when the context is misread.

 

But forgetting is pretty normal when your attention is preoccupied with self and you are worried for the security and safety of your “self” in the future!

Our mind is not available to other things or other people, and we can simply forget to honor what we said we would honor or do when in such a state of consciousness.

 

In fact, MOST of what we should be remembering while spending our time wasting both energy and time making ones self unnecessarily sick, is no longer available to our consciousness.

All of what I’ve just written connects to the Gospel for today [attached] in the following way:

 

This Gospel is about Jesus’ frustration with the assumptions being made about the actions of other people, with the conclusions they came to about actions of others, seeing intentions that are negative.

 

Negative accusations are made against people, but they’re based on a superficial reading of circumstances and false assumptions.

 

It seems the intention behind such accusatory discerning and judging is to nullify both the truth and the wisdom of God operating in the very actions being judged!

 

When people live in fear and are anxious for their safety and security, they not only corrupt the normal operations of the faculties of their mind, making themselves unavailable to be faithful to their own promises and commitments, but living in such a state leads to depression over time, and people may also lose the energy and willingness to care enough to act responsibly and in accordance with their own word.

 

If you notice that important people in your life who used to be trustworthy and faithful in their word with you suddenly aren’t, don’t assume anything. Don’t jump to any conclusions based solely on speculation: the truth is that you don’t know what’s going on in that person’s life, or in their heart, or even in their head.

 

The state of our society has to be taken into consideration even at the most personal level for everything happening now.

 

If you value the relationship, pray and then approach the person in a state of peace and ask a few appropriate questions with kindness and concern.