From The Pastor:
“…Do not conform yourselves to this age, be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:1-2). In this second reading from St. Paul there is a reminder to purify our minds. How important this is in our age where our minds have been bombarded with images. Our imagination then needs a serious purification, if we are to follow God’s will, do what is good and pleasing to Him.
Purifying our imagination is something that will not come overnight. Because we are in the body, we receive sensitive signals, our passions are always on the move and this in turn moves our imagination. The problem comes with today’s society. It is like none other. We are inundated with images on a daily basis. Our overly imaginative society has got us stuck in the imagination and we fail to face what is real.
If we are to renew our minds and discover the will of God, we must also be aware that with images, the devil enters the picture. St. Thomas Aquinas from his study of the ways of God says, “Angels can move the imagination, both a good and a bad angel, by their own natural power, can move the human imagination” (Summa, q111, Art. 2 Pt 1). In fact the devil first tempts with an image.
We should be careful to guard our eyes from being excessively imaginative. The fastest way to grow in faith is by facing what is real. If we end up constantly stuck in the imagination we may never leave the fantasy world and it becomes our reference point. You hear this when someone says, “Oh that was just like a movie or television program.” This is the first sign we are stuck in the imagination and not in reality.
How do we then begin to purify our imagination? In some religious practices you might learn to sit still, breathe properly and bring yourself into a state of peace. In Christianity, we always present ourselves to God and in His good timing he brings forth a purification. While the imagination is something we can’t control, we can learn to be more centered on the present moment and God’s presence. Our Catholic tradition has always taught to use both body and spirit. We can do the physical work in our bodies and minds by purifying our minds through the studies of philosophy. And we can do the spiritual work for our spirits by adoring God in the Holy Eucharist.
This week I hope to have my e-book entitled, “Imagination Gone Wild,” ready to read on line at www.stmaryspendleton.org. I highly recommend you read it and learn more about how our imagination works within us. It will be something you can use for a lifetime.
