Father and Joe E366: How to Create Opportunities for Goodness

In this episode of "Father Joe," hosts Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks dive deep into the concept of creating opportunities for goodness and how to follow God in our everyday lives. Reflecting on their previous discussions about Mary and the fourth commandment, they explore the profound idea of making intentional choices that lead us closer to God and enable us to do good in the world.

Joe begins by addressing a common question: how can we create opportunities for others to choose goodness and follow God? He emphasizes the importance of making these opportunities explicit and actionable, even though we are not divine beings with the power of the archangel Gabriel. Joe points out, “I think there's a lot more people that will respond to, yes, I will, but they don't want to figure out how to create the opportunity. And the more I believe the opportunities being created are the catalyst to the effect.”

Father Boniface responds by highlighting the importance of being in a prayerful state and open to listening, just as Mary was when she received the Annunciation. He explains, “His personal invitation to do good, to grow in holiness, to love beyond what might be sort of necessary from justice, that's a whispered voice, because otherwise he would overwhelm our freedom.” This gentle call from God requires us to be attentive and proactive in seeking out and responding to these opportunities.

The conversation then shifts to modern distractions, particularly the pervasive influence of smartphones. Joe and Father Boniface discuss how these devices can lead to "motionlessness," where people are constantly distracted and unable to fully engage with the present moment or the people around them. Joe notes, “Most of us do not carry a television around with us 24/7 but there are many people out there that if they don't know where their phone is, it's a crisis.”

Father Boniface adds, “Having a good cell phone hygiene is one way to be present to life. And I think in general, there's a...well, why is distraction also so attractive? I think we have a lot that we want to escape from.” He emphasizes the need for intentional actions and sacrifices to overcome these distractions and fully commit to our relationships and responsibilities.

The hosts also touch on the broader societal issues of diminishing attention spans and the need for intentional living. Joe highlights the importance of questioning societal norms and finding ways to disconnect from distractions, stating, “We're a social species, we need to be a part of the group, but we also need to do what's right and question what's going on with the group.”

In conclusion, Father Boniface offers a simple yet powerful call to action: “Give your attention to someone. That's an act of love. And love lasts forever. And the more that we sow the seeds of love, giving attention, making sacrifices, putting others first, just simple acts of service can make a tremendous difference.”

Join us in this enlightening discussion and discover practical ways to create more opportunities for goodness in your life. Remember to like, share, and subscribe for more insights on living a faith-filled life.

We thank you for listening and look forward to sharing more meaningful conversations with you next week.

Tags:
religion, spirituality, Christianity, Catholicism, discipleship, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Mary, fourth commandment, opportunities for goodness, following God, creating good, Jordan Peterson, call to adventure, listening to God, prayer, annunciation, personal growth, self-sacrifice, service to others, love and sacrifice, distracted living, cell phone distraction, modern challenges, spiritual guidance, faith in action, religious podcast, Catholic teachings, spiritual growth, community service, living a holy life, seeking God, growing in faith, finding purpose, living intentionally, overcoming distractions