From the Friars: A Tale of Two Messengers
What does St. John the Baptist have in common with Instagram? Both are messengers. One has a prophetic message to call people to change their lives in order to be prepared to receive the coming Messiah. The other is part of the powerful force we call social media. Here countless messages are being sent at every second of every day.
The scary prophet dressed in camel’s hair of 2000 years ago challenges us to recognize our need for conversion in order to receive the love of God. The photo/video sharing app is often sending the message, usually not intentionally, that to be happy one must have a perfect body and a perfect life. Constant viewing of the illusion of an ideal appearance and ideal fun relationships causes young people, young girls especially, to feel inadequate, “compare and despair.” This leads to increased anxiety, depression and sometimes suicide.
Social media apps on a phone, by Jason Howie – CC BY 2.0, Link
There has been a sharp and continuous rise in teenage suicide rates beginning around 2008. This followed shortly after the launching of the first popular social media sites. Facebook, which owns Instagram, did a study which clearly showed the app’s damaging effects.
It is supremely ironic that many blame the Church for making people feel bad about themselves by preaching about sin. I used to be among the many who speak about their “Catholic guilt.” But the Baptist speaks the truth, with the goal of reconciliation with God and the authentic happiness of the person. This truth includes the genuine basis of our self-worth, found in God’s unconditional love for us, which has nothing to do with how we look in a bathing suit.
Despair comes when a person sees no hope for happiness. Advent is about hope, the hope of real joy rooted in a free gift from our Creator. I don’t have to become something I am not, but only to gratefully receive His gift, and choosing to become what our Father in Heaven made me to be. And the gift is His only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
May Our Lady of Guadalupe help us to open our hearts and minds to the Good News.
Pax et bonum.
–Fr. Peter