Webinar on Evangelization in the Digital Continent
Wis 9:13-18; Ps 89(90); Philemon 9-10,121-17; Lk 14: 25-33
Carrying the Cross
Dear friends, today is the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. Today is also the “Good Samaritan” Sunday. This is the day when we pause and ask ourselves who our neighbour is. Last Friday, I co-hosted a webinar on “Evangelizing in the Digital Continent.” The speakers and participants agreed that the digital world is no longer just something in the cloud, but a real continent where real people live, interact, and earn a living. Therefore, it is not out of place to ask the question, “Who is my neighbour online?” “
The people living in the digital continent, most of whom are young, also need to be evangelized, catechized, and have their social and spiritual needs addressed. As Dr. Michael Unland, one of the keynote speakers, said during the webinar that the owners of social media platforms are not concerned about human interaction but are just businesspeople, and as such, to them, all subscribers are commercial products. Do you know that your biodata, search history, and likes on social media are sold to businesses that, in turn, send you advertisements for their products?
We must also appreciate that just as we have wars and conflicts, loneliness and bullying, hunger and discrimination in our geographical continent, those living in the digital world are not spared from these either. Therefore, the full presence of the Church in the digital continent must go further than just being visible on social media to include authentic attentiveness, listening, and genuine care. It must go beyond likes, shares, or followers to nurture sincere conversations that lead to authentic transformation.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is talking about ‘Carrying of the Cross.’ “Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14: 25-27). In our daily conversation, this statement by Jesus is often used wrongly to mean carrying one’s burdens alone. This is a result of the misunderstanding of the meaning of the cross. The cross is not a sign of death and defeat but a sign and symbol of our salvation. Jesus literally carried the wooden cross on which He was hanged, but symbolically He carried all our sins, thereby saving us from eternal death.
When Jesus talks about carrying individual crosses as a requisite for being His disciples, He means that each one must make a personal decision and effort to follow Him. Being a follower of Jesus is a radical and personal choice that may contradict even our core human relationships, such as family. Though many inherit faith from their parents and the community where they were brought up, every individual adult has to look for meaning in what he or she believes. Unfortunately, many abandon the inherited faith when they become adults for a myriad of reasons. Others just go to worship for many other reasons, but not faith. Have you found meaning in your faith yet?
Following Jesus involves imbibing His teachings about the Kingdom of God and its values, which may be contrary to the world. This involves breaking ties with everything and everyone who might stand in the way, including one’s family and friends. It means even going contrary to our very personal desires and preferences. This is the sacred intention of God that the writer of the first reading today tells us, “we cannot divine.” Being a follower of Christ sets us free; hence, we are no longer slaves to the world or to anyone.
In the second reading, Paul is sending Onesimus back to his former master, Philemon, not as a slave anymore but as a brother in faith. Onesmo was Philemon’s slave who had run away. He remained with Paul when he was imprisoned at Ephesus and was converted to Christianity. Philemon was an elder in the Church at Colossae. Paul is appealing to Philemon to receive Onesimus back not any longer as a slave, but as the brother in Christ that he has become. Faith makes us brothers and sisters of one Father, despite our differences in race, tribe, social class, etc. We are all called to treat in this way all those who surround us. Here we could rightly say that faith is thicker than blood. Do you feel more dignified than those around you?
In the last part of the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes that to be His follower, one must prepare well. One must count the cost first; otherwise, he or she may not be able to finish the journey. Family, friends, and property are necessary, but if we are not careful, they might hinder us from being authentic disciples of Christ.
Dear friends, we can no longer continue burying our heads in the sand as far as the digital age is concerned. We are called to recognize our online neigbours and care for them. Lastly, we need to ask ourselves if our earthly concerns and relationships hinder us from being authentic followers of Christ.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
(see also svdkentan.com)
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 