Being Present

Did you know that the Church celebrates World Communication Day each year addressing the use of social media? This year marks the 47th World Communication Day. What does that mean? It will be celebrated on Sunday, May 12th, 2013, the Sunday before Pentecost. On January 24th, the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the patron of Writers, the Pope issues a message about the upcoming World Communication Day. 

Pope Benedict the XVI, in his 2013 WCD "Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization." calls us to  "be true heralds and witnesses of the Gospel. 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). 

(The following is a reflection I wrote for the course Technology in Ministry). 

                  “When we are all present to others in any way at all, we are called to make known the love of God to the furthest ends of the Earth.” 

                  (Pope Benedict XVI, 47^th World Communications Day).

                   

                  This idea of being present speaks to me. How are we, the Church, present to one another? With all of these tech gadgets, trying to juggle more than one at time (yes I’m guilty of this now as I write this; I’m using a laptop, ipad and smart phone). It appears easy at times to attempt to multi-task and text and talk for example, but to be fully present, sometimes putting down the gadgets and maintaining the eye-to-eye contact is needed. While other times the opposite is true, sometimes we have to meet people where they are, on their devices, in front of the screen, across the world, or at work on their lunch break. Maintaining a balance calling to mind, “…that while the Internet can never replace that profound experience of God which only the living, liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can offer, it can certainly provide a unique supplement and support in both preparing for the encounter with Christ in community, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins. “ (Pope John Paul II, 36^th World Communication Day).

                   

                  Finding a balance between the face-to-face (f2f) and the virtual forms of presence, the Church can bring the Gospel Global. It is the Churches right to utilize such media, “…an inherent right of the Church to have at its disposal and to employ any of these media insofar as they are necessary or useful for the instruction of Christians and all its efforts for the welfare of souls.” (Inter Mirifica, Pope Paul VI).  To effectively use such media we need to be cognizant of what we are saying and how we are saying it, just as when we are dialoguing f2f with someone about church doctrine or beliefs (especially to nonbelievers or those of other denominations). We should be mindful and ensure that our encounters are engaging and during our interactions online that we are maintaining a web presence that is true to the Church and making known the love of God in all ways. “The news itself that is communicated should always be true and complete, within the bounds of justice and charity.” (Inter Mirifica, Pope Paul VI). Believers can utilize media in such ways to be witnesses of their faith to show hope and love in Jesus Christ.

                   

How can we begin to make God’s love known? By continuing to be present, in any way that God may be calling us to make known his love to the ends of the Earth. As the Church has demonstrated over the past 47 years, the media is just one tool that we are called to utilize to spread the Gospel. Mother Theresa said, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” So rather if you are a little pencil, like Mother Theresa, or a little blog, little tweet, a little message status, or simply a listening ear; make yourself present and God’s love known in all you do in Jesus’ name for the welfare of souls.