When I read Christi Derr’s post I was immediately drawn into it.  The point of how a small, seemingly insignificant, act of kindness changed Oscar Wilde’s life is one that I must always strive to remember as I engage in ministry in the prison system.  But it goes far beyond that.. into every part of life.

I am sure that I won’t say it as well as Christi did, so here is her post.

Love is Kind

Posted By Christi Derr On October 16, 2009 

“Men have gone to Heaven for smaller things than that,” wrote Oscar Wilde in De Profundis . He was referring to an act of kindness done to Wilde in a moment of humiliation on a world stage.  This gesture of love and respect, though it was indeed very small, opened the door of Wilde’s heart to Jesus.  I was so struck by the beauty of this story that it got me thinking about how enormously powerful are the very small and humble actions we do purely out of love of God or our neighbor.  But first, as they say, the rest of the story…

At the height of Oscar Wilde’s popularity and acclaim as an art critic, novelist, poet, playwright, and delightful dinner guest, he was convicted of and sent to prison for crimes of “gross indecency.”  The fall from the pinnacle of world renown and success was a terrible one.  The rejection and disgust of England, which had previously embraced him, was keenly felt by Wilde.  One man, Robert Ross, proved to be a friend through the acclaim and the downfall.  I will let Wilde take it from here:

When I was brought down from my prison… between two policemen, Robbie waited in the long corridor, that before the whole crowd…he might gravely raise his hat to me, as handcuffed and with bowed head I passed him by…

The poet reveals something a few sentences later that all of us should keep in mind when what we do appears to go unnoticed:

I have never said one word to him about what he did… I store it in the treasury-house of my heart.  I keep it there as a secret debt that I am glad to think I can never possibly repay.

Throughout his life, Wilde had always been torn between two strong attractions, decadence and Catholicism.  In prison, where he “found his soul”, Catholicism began to get the upper hand in that battle.  He attributes Robbie’s small “act of Love,” just a tip of his hat, as being the genesis of that conversion:

When Wisdom has been profitless to me, and philosophy barren, and the proverbs and phrases of those who have sought to give me consolation as dust and ashes in my mouth, the memory of that little lowly silent act of Love has …brought me out of the bitterness of lonely exile into harmony with the wounded, broken great heart of the world.

And later he asks, “How else but through a broken heart can the dear Christ enter in?” ( “Ballad of Reading Gaol” ).

Robert Ross’s action toward Oscar Wilde was beautiful because it was small and kind.  Sometimes people, especially Christians like to think of themselves as nice.  This man was kind to Wilde, not nice.  Kindness involves a bit more than niceness.  It needs to be remembered that at the time of Wilde’s imprisonment, he was a social pariah.  When Ross was publicly courteous to Oscar Wilde, he risked his own reputation.  That is the difference between being nice and being kind.  Kindness costs something.  Kindness feels solidarity with one who is struggling.  St. Paul lists kindness as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Niceness waves from afar, kindness stoops.  The popular teenager who greets the unpopular one in the hall is nice.  The teen that joins the lonely kid’s table at lunch is kind.   Niceness holds the new born baby.  Kindness folds the load of laundry.   A nice co-worker advises the new guy.  A kind one mentors him.  Niceness points out a path.  Kindness accompanies the traveler.  It is important to the nice someone to look like a “good person.”  Kindness thinks of the other.  Niceness is a cousin of human respect.  Kindness is a sister of mercy.

The other thing about acts of kindness is that they are small.  I remember once when I was job hunting, the kindness of a waiter literally changed my life.  There is nothing more exasperating, and disheartening than looking for a job in a tough market.  After a day of trudging from interview to interview, I was feeling something less than human.  I stopped by a small French style café for a latte – a sure remedy for any sorrow!  The waiter there was so very kind, sincere and cheerful that had I gone on a trip to the islands it would not have done me more good than just being served coffee by this man.  I walked back up to my full stature upon leaving the café, not the subhuman manner in which I had crawled in.  I ended up having a career in hotel management.  I endeavored to treat every guest in the same way that waiter had treated me.  As is often the case, he never knew just how much his kindness truly inspired me to do the same to others.

My sister once told me about a minister’s wife who shined the shoes of Church members who had just lost a loved one.  This woman was keenly aware that a soul steeped in mourning needs the presence of someone there.  She also knew that the man or woman would have to attend the funeral.  The minister’s wife would silently shine the shoes of the bereaved.  She performed a helpful service but she also just had an excuse to be physically near them. In this way she was a silent presence – a comfort in itself.  And while she was there, otherwise occupied, if the person wanted to talk he/she could.  If not, she was just “there for them” for a set time, easing their immediate sense of loss.

The smallness of these sorts of acts accomplishes two wonderful things at once.  First of all the act is too small for the one shown kindness to feel indebted to the other.  The waiter didn’t buy me a house, he poured me coffee.  Even though his graciousness is always remembered by me, I did not feel a sense of burden when I left.  It was a free gift.  Secondly, small acts of kindness allow the giver to be a vehicle of charity without incurring a temptation to pride.  I am guessing that Robbie did not run home and brag to friends that he had tipped his hat to Oscar Wilde.  I am sure that the Minister’s wife never interrupts dramatic tales of early Christian Martyrs with “yeah, well I shine shoes for funerals.”

Scripture reveals to us the remarkable kindness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is always the perfect example of every Christian virtue.  Her thoughtfulness is first manifested in the story of the Visitation.  Mary finds out about St. Elizabeth’s pregnancy at the same time she hears that she is to be the Mother of the Messiah.   We can assume that she was overjoyed by the news that she would be the Mother of Jesus, but here she does something very different from the what rest of us would do.  At the time that I would be running from house to house in Nazareth letting all the neighbors know how special I was, Mary is packing to make the journey to Elizabeth’s house.  Mary did not send a card of congratulations to Elizabeth.  Mary sent herself to help Elizabeth.

We read another example of Mary’s compassionate heart at the wedding at Cana.  Have you ever noticed when reading this story that no one tells Mary that the newlyweds have run out of wine?  She seems to have overheard complaints from other guests or perhaps seen the couple looking a bit panicked.  Either way, she immediately acts to help them.  We know now, but no one knew then, just what the miraculous answer to her request would cost her.  Jesus performs his first public miracle which inaugurates his public ministry.  The culmination of that ministry would be his crucifixion.  Scripture scholars rightly teach us the much deeper the meaning of the miracle of Cana is the symbol of the bridegroom, Christ and His bride, the Church.  It also symbolizes the renewal of the Covenant, and has many other deeper meanings.  But frankly, the story on its most basic, simple level is also true.  A couple ran out of wine for their guests – not a worldwide catastrophe, but enough of problem to catch the attention of the kind heart of Mary, who then interceded with God for them and obtained the greatest possible blessing for their wedding, the first miracle of the Messiah.

The common thread in all of these stories of kindness is how much Our Lord does with so little.  Wilde’s conversion to Catholicism began with the smallest act of respect.  Coincidentally, or not so coincidentally, Robert Ross was also the man who ran and got a priest to administer late rites to Oscar Wilde.  Ross saw Wilde received into the Church on his deathbed.  Mary asked Jesus to help out an embarrassed bride and groom.  She is answered with Jesus’ first miracle.  God seems to delight in this way of doing things.  Just think of the little boy in the Gospels who offered a couple fish and a little bread to Our Lord.  He witnessed Jesus turn a mouthful for one into a feast for thousands.

While we live in this world we are ambassadors for Christ.  We daily represent Jesus to others; Jesus, who describes Himself as meek and humble of heart.  We stand for the Father who is “kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”  We are representatives of Him who “causes it to rain on the just and unjust.”  Words fail us in describing the goodness of God.  Sometimes, though, small acts of kindness can give us and others glimpses of the overwhelming goodness of God, and make that goodness present, if just for a moment, in this valley of tears.   I know of an Archbishop who answers every e-mail he receives within a day at most.  That is no small thing; it is kind.  He is an ambassador for Christ.  Every time we patiently listen to someone who bores us, cook a healthy meal for a family, console a burdened friend, quietly and without fanfare forgive an offense, smile, or in any way help or recognize another we are introducing that soul to Christ or making His goodness present for a time.   And if that vision of goodness opens the door of a heart even a little, “the dear Christ can enter in.”

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URL to article: http://catholicexchange.com/2009/10/16/122362/

In their pursuit of the truth, science and faith often articulate reality using what amounts to different “languages”.  In the video below Evan Grant demonstrates the science and art of cymatics.  At the end he talks about the potential of this discipline and I couldn’t help but reflect upon Genesis and the power of the Word of God.  The revelation of creation, to the ancients in the Hebrew scriptures first story of creation, put it this way:

In the beginning… the earth was a formless wasteland… Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

And so the pattern continued, God “spoke” all into existence.  It should come as no surprise to believers that sound has many properties that science is just beginning to explore, even the ability to affect matter.  At least that’s the way it sounds to me.

Congratulations Mr. President!

Wait… Well this is interesting..  According to Nobelprize.org and their rules for this prize ” nominations… must be postmarked no later than 1 February each year.”

Apparently Obama’s international accomplishments are based on him being president for only twelve days.   I think to a certain extent this calls the validity of this honor into question.  Maybe this award is now more about agendas than accomplishments.  Maybe it is about what some people hope will happen and not some evil conspiracy as some will claim it is a part of.  I don’t suppose I’ll ever know.

Well, let us hope and pray together that the world does become a safer place through his actions.  May God grant him wisdom and the the grace to respond to that wisdom so that the world becomes safer for everyone, at every stage of life, from conception until natural death.

Process of Nomination and Selection.

Actually summer has been over for awhile, at least as measured by the patterns of life dictated by school and work.  With its passing the hectic pace of life increased and I found myself  scrambling to meet deadlines in work, formation, and ministry.  Whoever said about the insurance business, “Work like crazy for 10 years, then work on your handicap.” was born in a different era.

All the more reason to take the time to stay anchored in my prayer life and rooted in the Gospel.  Today I was reminded of what my priorities should be in this homily for the day from the Catholicexchange.com web portal.

Walk Consciously with the Lord

Posted By Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. On October 6, 2009 @ 12:00 am In Homily of the Day

Jon 3:1-10 / Lk 10:38-42

Today’s gospel, which recounts a conversation between Jesus and his aggrieved hostess Martha, has been a source of considerable irritation to many women across the generations. “Martha was right!” they protest. “She had a right to expect some help from her sister, and it was unfair of Jesus to brush her off so lightly. What if Martha had said, ‘Fine, Jesus, I’ll just choose the “better part” too. Then we’ll see what happens to the fine dinner you’re expecting!’”

A little harsh, yet it does seem a fair reaction. But it’s not. And to see that, we have to go back and listen more closely to Jesus’ words to Martha. The fact is that he doesn’t respond at all to her complaint about the lack of help in the kitchen. Instead, he looks at the bigger picture, the big patterns in Martha’s life. Listen to him: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about MANY things; only one thing is required…”

Jesus had observed Martha for quite awhile and had looked into her soul. What he saw was a woman who was not at peace. She was a good soul who had fallen into the trap of letting the ordinary tasks of daily life overwhelm and rule her days, instead of just the opposite.

That very thing can happen to any one of us, if we forget that we’re not walking through our days alone, if we forget that the Lord walks with us. If we attend to the Lord’s presence and trust him, he’ll give us the courage and strength we need; and he’ll help us to keep our vision clear and to know what really matters and what does not.

Walking consciously and faithfully with the Lord is the “one thing that is required.” Everything else will follow, most especially a calm and peaceful heart.

As we pass though the year the seasons and our lives follow a natural rhythm and we should perhaps seek to adjust our daily routine.  The beauty of  summer in Western New York is that we have the opportunity to spend extended hours outside and enjoy seasonal activities.  For me it will range from the routine joy of time spent in my garden, to special events such as weddings, and picnic holiday celebrations.  There is also a list of items on my to-do list that has grown rather long and is best addressed in the warmer weather.  So the bottom line is… I am taking a vacation from blogging.  Before I do.  I’d like to thank you for reading and and offer a prayer that God will bless you and me and all whom we love with a summer that will be a joy, filled with renewal and healing, and building up in us all that we need to face the future as humble children of a loving God. 

The percentage of the population considered obese increased from 12 percent in 1990 to more than 26 percent in 2007. By the year 2020, 40 percent of men and 43 percent of women are predicted to be obese, with more than 70 percent of both men and women predicted to be overweight. And the numbers are growing.

via Workers’ Compensation Industry Worried About Obesity Claims.

As I was reading this article in today’s issue of the Insurance Journal I couldn’t help but wonder why.  In a culture that is consumed by dieting, has a health club near to just about anywhere, and a highly rated TV Show which has spawned “Biggest Loser” competitions in families, social clubs, and workplaces… why is obesity on the rise.

I am sure there are a number of studies that examine various factors such as nutrition and sedentary lifestyles and that those things are valid considerations.  I am thinking about another possible component though.  It has to do with relationship.

I think that in my own struggle with being overweight I am seeing that I do not have the proper relationship with food in my life.  I eat because I am bored, or because I am at a social function, or because it is my habit to eat popcorn at a movie.  Often I am not eating because my body needs the energy and nutrients to be healthy.

What would I think of someone who kept pumping gas into his car when the tank was full because he enjoyed pumping gas or was in the habit of pumping gas?  It would be sheer lunacy.  Yet that is what so many of us do with our bodies.  Our desire to eat doesn’t automatically shut off as soon as the tank is full though.  So what do we do to be proactive in correcting our eating habits?

I think we need to examine our relationship with food and see why it is that we are eating.  Are we really hungry or are we looking for comfort, relief from stress, perhaps to be entertained?  Is it possible that we are trying to fill a hunger that is psychological, emotional, or even spiritual rather than physical?  It is time for me to take a good hard look at that and address each hunger seperately and with a proper healthy response.  Putting food, my interactions with the world, and with my God into right relationship so that I move towards ease rather than dis-ease in life.  I think I had better start with prayer and ask for the grace to go down this road with openess and wisdom.

People of goodwill often disagree about what course of action makes more sense. Building consensus is difficult at best but it begins by listening openly to the concerns of stakeholders. Lou Pritchett is one such stakeholder and he voices the concerns of many who have a conservative political bent in this open letter.

If you are thrilled with the job the president is doing, then read this to understand not “the other side” but a fellow stakeholder in our nation’s future.   If you are not happy with the direction the administration is steering us, then see if his concerns are also yours.   Then all of us over coffee, in our homes, at work, or with our friends need to think and talk about the issues and seek some common ground to move forward.  We either respectfully engage in dialog or demonize and belittle those we disagree with.    Oh there is also a third option, bury our head in the sand and accept whatever comes without our input. Your choice.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

By Lou Pritchett

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don’t understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and ‘class’, always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the ‘blame America’ crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer ‘wind mills’ to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use ‘extortion’ tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O’Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

Note: Lou Pritchett is a former vice president of Procter & Gamble whose career at that company spanned 36 years before his retirement in 1989, and he is the author of the 1995 business book, Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat.

George Tiller was a very public late-term abortionist.

George Tiller was also assassinated over the weekend.  Is it even necessary for me to say how wrong that act was?  In today’s world I believe that it is.  On the face of it, Pro-Life means that you cannot embrace a philosophy of death, killing to gain progress toward a respect for life would be a building upon a horribly flawed foundation and anything that you built upon it would collapse under its inherent hypocrisy.   Every pro-life group that I am aware of has condemned this act of violence and are offering prayers for the victim’s family.

Catholic teaching on this is clear.  In the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH  paragraph 1786 states: Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.  Furthermore we read in paragraph 1789 Some rules apply in every case: – One may never do evil so that good may result from it…

So there is no doubt, no matter how strongly you may believe that abortion is wrong and that preventing abortions from occurring may be a good thing, the end DOES NOT justify the means when the means is assasination.  Look at the example of the life of Christ, or more recently Ghandi, and in our nation Martin Luther King.  Each of them was asked to embrace violence as a means to an end, and said no.  Each of them chose instead to give up their life for life.  These are the examples that we need to follow.

OK this has nothing to do with super heroes or DC comics but this Sunday is World Communications day and when I typed  Holy Internet the Batman part just naturally followed afterward.  The real issue here is…  What does an old German Pope and an ancient faith tradition have to say about Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogging, etc…?  As it turns out plenty.

In a nutshell it has great potential for good if used properly.  So we are encouraged to use it properly. He warns us however (as many of you already know first hand) of the possibility that “our desire to sustain and develop on-line friendships (could) be at the cost of our availability to engage with our families, our neighbours and those we meet… If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.”

He concludes by addressing himself  “in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world.” Drawing upon the earliest examples of the apostles and relating it to the unique ability that is available to them to bring the Gospel to a world so much in need of it.

Sounds pretty good to me.  But do yourself a favor, read the whole message, as papal documents go this one is a very easy read.  Then get out there and Tweet about your blog as you post your links and network with your friends. Just keep it proper balance and perspective and take the Christ of God with you.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE 43rd WORLD DAY OF COMMUNICATIONS

“New Technologies, New Relationships.
Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”

May 24, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

In anticipation of the forthcoming World Communications Day, I would like to address to you some reflections on the theme chosen for this year – New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The new digital technologies are, indeed, bringing about fundamental shifts in patterns of communication and human relationships. These changes are particularly evident among those young people who have grown up with the new technologies and are at home in a digital world that often seems quite foreign to those of us who, as adults, have had to learn to understand and appreciate the opportunities it has to offer for communications. In this year’s message, I am conscious of those who constitute the so-called digital generation and I would like to share with them, in particular, some ideas concerning the extraordinary potential of the new technologies, if they are used to promote human understanding and solidarity. These technologies are truly a gift to humanity and we must endeavour to ensure that the benefits they offer are put at the service of all human individuals and communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.

The accessibility of mobile telephones and computers, combined with the global reach and penetration of the internet, has opened up a range of means of communication that permit the almost instantaneous communication of words and images across enormous distances and to some of the most isolated corners of the world; something that would have been unthinkable for previous generations. Young people, in particular, have grasped the enormous capacity of the new media to foster connectedness, communication and understanding between individuals and communities, and they are turning to them as means of communicating with existing friends, of meeting new friends, of forming communities and networks, of seeking information and news, and of sharing their ideas and opinions. Many benefits flow from this new culture of communication: families are able to maintain contact across great distances; students and researchers have more immediate and easier access to documents, sources and scientific discoveries, hence they can work collaboratively from different locations; moreover, the interactive nature of many of the new media facilitates more dynamic forms of learning and communication, thereby contributing to social progress.

While the speed with which the new technologies have evolved in terms of their efficiency and reliability is rightly a source of wonder, their popularity with users should not surprise us, as they respond to a fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to each other. This desire for communication and friendship is rooted in our very nature as human beings and cannot be adequately understood as a response to technical innovations. In the light of the biblical message, it should be seen primarily as a reflection of our participation in the communicative and unifying Love of God, who desires to make of all humanity one family. When we find ourselves drawn towards other people, when we want to know more about them and make ourselves known to them, we are responding to God’s call – a call that is imprinted in our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God, the God of communication and communion.

The desire for connectedness and the instinct for communication that are so obvious in contemporary culture are best understood as modern manifestations of the basic and enduring propensity of humans to reach beyond themselves and to seek communion with others. In reality, when we open ourselves to others, we are fulfilling our deepest need and becoming more fully human. Loving is, in fact, what we are designed for by our Creator. Naturally, I am not talking about fleeting, shallow relationships, I am talking about the real love that is at the very heart of Jesus’ moral teaching: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You must love your neighbour as yourself” (cf. Mk 12:30-31). In this light, reflecting on the significance of the new technologies, it is important to focus not just on their undoubted capacity to foster contact between people, but on the quality of the content that is put into circulation using these means. I would encourage all people of good will who are active in the emerging environment of digital communication to commit themselves to promoting a culture of respect, dialogue and friendship.

Those who are active in the production and dissemination of new media content, therefore, should strive to respect the dignity and worth of the human person. If the new technologies are to serve the good of individuals and of society, all users will avoid the sharing of words and images that are degrading of human beings, that promote hatred and intolerance, that debase the goodness and intimacy of human sexuality or that exploit the weak and vulnerable.

The new technologies have also opened the way for dialogue between people from different countries, cultures and religions. The new digital arena, the so-called cyberspace, allows them to encounter and to know each other’s traditions and values. Such encounters, if they are to be fruitful, require honest and appropriate forms of expression together with attentive and respectful listening. The dialogue must be rooted in a genuine and mutual searching for truth if it is to realize its potential to promote growth in understanding and tolerance. Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by those who see us merely as consumers in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth.

The concept of friendship has enjoyed a renewed prominence in the vocabulary of the new digital social networks that have emerged in the last few years. The concept is one of the noblest achievements of human culture. It is in and through our friendships that we grow and develop as humans. For this reason, true friendship has always been seen as one of the greatest goods any human person can experience. We should be careful, therefore, never to trivialize the concept or the experience of friendship. It would be sad if our desire to sustain and develop on-line friendships were to be at the cost of our availability to engage with our families, our neighbours and those we meet in the daily reality of our places of work, education and recreation. If the desire for virtual connectedness becomes obsessive, it may in fact function to isolate individuals from real social interaction while also disrupting the patterns of rest, silence and reflection that are necessary for healthy human development.

Friendship is a great human good, but it would be emptied of its ultimate value if it were to be understood as an end in itself. Friends should support and encourage each other in developing their gifts and talents and in putting them at the service of the human community. In this context, it is gratifying to note the emergence of new digital networks that seek to promote human solidarity, peace and justice, human rights and respect for human life and the good of creation. These networks can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good of all. We must, therefore, strive to ensure that the digital world, where such networks can be established, is a world that is truly open to all. It would be a tragedy for the future of humanity if the new instruments of communication, which permit the sharing of knowledge and information in a more rapid and effective manner, were not made accessible to those who are already economically and socially marginalized, or if it should contribute only to increasing the gap separating the poor from the new networks that are developing at the service of human socialization and information.

I would like to conclude this message by addressing myself, in particular, to young Catholic believers: to encourage them to bring the witness of their faith to the digital world. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I ask you to introduce into the culture of this new environment of communications and information technology the values on which you have built your lives. In the early life of the Church, the great Apostles and their disciples brought the Good News of Jesus to the Greek and Roman world. Just as, at that time, a fruitful evangelization required that careful attention be given to understanding the culture and customs of those pagan peoples so that the truth of the gospel would touch their hearts and minds, so also today, the proclamation of Christ in the world of new technologies requires a profound knowledge of this world if the technologies are to serve our mission adequately. It falls, in particular, to young people, who have an almost spontaneous affinity for the new means of communication, to take on the responsibility for the evangelization of this “digital continent”. Be sure to announce the Gospel to your contemporaries with enthusiasm. You know their fears and their hopes, their aspirations and their disappointments: the greatest gift you can give to them is to share with them the “Good News” of a God who became man, who suffered, died and rose again to save all people. Human hearts are yearning for a world where love endures, where gifts are shared, where unity is built, where freedom finds meaning in truth, and where identity is found in respectful communion. Our faith can respond to these expectations: may you become its heralds! The Pope accompanies you with his prayers and his blessing.

From the Vatican, 24 January 2009, Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.

BENEDICTUS XVI

© Copyright 2009 – Libreria Editrice Vaticana

According to Bertrand Russell “The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” I tend to agree.

We hear a great deal about, that so often misunderstood word, love. Love in the ancient Mediterranean world generally signifies a kind of group bonding and attachment. It refers to a state of being firmly embedded in the community, recognizing mutual obligations, and remaining attached to the group in spite of personal or political differences. This is in keeping with a society that was hugely more based on communal values and insights than the individualistic and self absorbed one we are used to living in.

This is underscored by the knowledge that the Greek verb to abide or remain (menw) is used constantly (53 times!) in the Gospel according to John. It expresses a desire for loyalty and group cohesion, and gives an important clue to us about the radical nature of this community, about its feeling of being outside the mainstream, and about its preoccupation with keeping community members together.

These are lessons that we must learn and incorporate into our lives if we are to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a post-modern nihilistic culture that is increasingly hostile towards any who dare to speak up against the gospel of the politically correct. For it is only by remaining in community and boldly speaking the truth in love that we can hope to be a light in the darkness and the leaven we are called to be in our society. It is the only way we can dialogue with our friends and families to become ambassadors of this culture of love we wish to create and it is the only way that we will be able to live the good life.

These thoughts were inspired by the Lectionary Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter and the research of liturgist, composer and dynamic speaker, Tom Conry.

Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48
Psalm 98:1-4
1 John 4:7-10
John 15:9-17