MENTAL POLLUTION

1 Timothy 3:14-16; PS 111 How great are the works of the lord; Luke 7:31-35

Here are a few words form Pope Francis' encyclical.

"Furthermore, when media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously...

in this context the great sages of the past run the risk of going unheard amid the noise  and distractions of an information overload...

true wisdom, as the fruit of self-examination, dialogue and generous encounter between persons, is not acquired by a mere accumulation of data which eventually leads to overload and confusion, as sort of mental pollution...

Real relationships with others, with all the challenges they entail, now tend to be replaced by a type of internet communication which enables us to choose or eliminate relationships at whim, thus giving rise to a new type of contrived emotion which has more to do with devices and displays than with other people and with nature..."


For some reason I though of the above when I read today's gospel.

Jesus compares the people of his generation  like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, "we played the flute of you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did into weep."

Jesus in some sense speaks of the disconnect that often happens in the lives of people in regards to reality.  We rather have reality TV shows than be engaged in reality.  We prefer our relationships on Facebook or connect on instagram or twitter than actually have a meaningful exchange that demands a true gift of self.

Our worlds have become digital but no longer flesh and blood.  We expect the world to obey our every passing whim and we seek immediate gratification.  But what happens when gratification no longer occurs.

But their is hope.  Jesus' last line in today's gospel calls to us clearly and precisely: Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

The wisdom of the sages of the past will wait for us even as they call to us from the past.  The lessons they seek to teach will wait for us, just as God waits patiently for us to come back to him.

When we are worn out by the 'make believe' connections that are held out to us in the digital world, we know that God has become flesh and blood to fill the gaps the world as we know it can never truly and fully fill.

Then and only then can we dance and sing and be fully engaged in life and love.

As St Paul tells us, "who was manifested int he flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed by Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory."

Where do we find it, "the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.."

What refreshing words from St Paul.  When the world has offered all it has and we have drank the cup to the dregs then the Church, pillar and foundation of truth, remains there with arms outstretched to welcome us in to the embrace of Christ himself where a true gift of self, flesh and blood, awaits us.

In the end, flesh blood we are and flesh blood is what we will need to show us the way home.