"The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times" by Dean Brackley

Theology 190
Assignment 3 
Yu Hsiang Hsu
September 23, 2019
Summary
"The Call to Discernment in Troubled Times" by Dean Brackley, is more of a reading that tries to introduce its reader to the radical teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The author is an expert in theology, uses the wisdom shared by Ignatius of Loyola to try and address the current state of inequality and socioeconomic injustices. Fr. Dean Brackley integrates a realistic analysis of today's social crisis with the deep personal spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Throughout the chapters, Brackley tries to confront the issue of discernment and how it is a difficult aspect for today's society to embrace it. Discernment is the ability to judge well. In Christianity, discernment is the process of determining the desire of God in identifying the true nature of things. Like discerning whether something is good or evil. Brackley also explores other aspects like passion and compassion, the notion of getting free, resurrection and prayer, as well as the importance of having something worth living for. All these advocate for an inner embracement of personal love and appreciation, as well as the importance of acknowledging the existence and role played by other people as well. With the ever-growing gap between the wealthy and the poor in the contemporary world, a lot of social ills come with it. As Christians we are supposed to promote empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, employment and social integration. We should come with initiatives that ensure everyone is treated equally. When we make good choices and live as God calls as to do, we please God and draw ourselves nearer to Him.
As Christians, there is a need to embrace people from every socioeconomic class through empathy and understanding. This is because people pass through a lot in their daily lives and that is why there is need to connect with such people. With this we will be able to understand what other people are passing through, their emotions and challenges. Such a degree of tolerance can only come about if people learn to fight off the human aspects of pride and selfish...