"Every century is like every other, and to those who live in it seems worse than all times before it. The Church is ever ailing, and lingers on in weakness. Religion seems ever expiring, schisms dominant, the light of Truth dim, its adherents scattered. The cause of Christ is ever in its last agony, as though it were but a question of time whether it fails finally this day or another."
John Henry Newman
"Sorrow can do one of two things to us. It can make us hard, bitter, resentful, rebellious against God. Or it can make us kinder, softer, more sympathetic It can despoil us of our faith; or it can root faith ever deeper. It all depends how we think of God. If we think of him as distant and detached we may well despair; but if we think of him as intimately connected with life, as having his hand on the helm, we too will be sure that the best is yet to be and the years will never kill our hope."
William Barclay, Commentary on Luke 2:36-40
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God. Trust also in me."
John 14:1
"People who know nothing of God and whose lives are centered on
themselves, imagine that they can only find themselves by asserting
their own desires and ambitions and appetites in a struggle with the
rest of the world. They try to become real by imposing themselves on
other people, by appropriating for themselves some share of the limited
supply of created goods and thus emphasizing the difference between
themselves and the other men who have less than they, or nothing at
all."
Thomas Merton
“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 familial interconnection with all mankind."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you His kingdom."
Luke 12:32
Another day of the same old, same old.
Stocks slumped.
The Dollar rallied on higher yields.
The VIX rose slightly.
Gold and silver were sold.
Wash - rinse - repeat.
There will be a stock index option expiration on Friday.
In all this back and forth, a firm footing on higher ground seems the place to be.
I think this is going to continue until at least after the midterm elections.
Have a pleasant evening.
