"The Unspeakable. It is the void that we encounter. It is the emptiness of the end. Not necessarily the end of the world, but a theological point of no return, a climax of absolute finality in refusal, in equivocation, in disorder, in absurdity, which can be broken open again to truth only by miracle, by the coming of God.
We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.
Only the man who has had to face despair is really convinced that he needs mercy. Those who do not want mercy never seek it. It is better to find God on the threshold of despair than to risk our lives in a complacency that has never felt the need of forgiveness."
Thomas Merton
"I told you once that I was searching for the nature of evil. I think I've come close to defining it: a lack of empathy. It's the one characteristic that connects all the defendants. A genuine incapacity to feel with their fellow man. Evil, I think, is the absence of empathy."
G. M. Gilbert
"In the Incarnation the whole human race recovers the dignity of the image of God. Thereafter, any attack, even on the least of men, is an attack on Christ, who took on the form of man, and in his own Person restored the image of God in all.
Through our relationship with the Incarnation, we recover our true humanity, and at the same time are delivered from that perverse individualism which is the consequence of sin, and recover our solidarity with all mankind."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Do all without constant arguing and complaining, so that you may be blameless and righteous as children of God, unlike those of this contentious and perverse generation, among whom you may shine like lights to the world, as you hold firmly to the word of life."
Phil 2:14-16
The market observance of Martin Luther King Day was a great opportunity for the wiseguys to slam the futures around, particularly gold and silver.
In the most quiet trading, at night, gold was smacked down to 1800, and silver to 24. The purpose of this was to 'run the stops.'
And yet both metals managed to end the day higher.
Stocks were on a tear, with the NDX 100 leading the way higher.
There will be the inauguration of a new president tomorrow.
Most important is the state of your own hearts and soul.
It is not too late yet to let go of your selfishness and your proud and hardened hearts.
For God is not mocked.
Have a pleasant evening.
