As the Superintendent of Catholic Schools I receive a multitude of advertisements for a vast array of products related to schools. An e-mail popped up today with the subject line stating, “Most of your parents have never heard a busy signal.” I don’t know exactly what product was being sold or which company was doing the advertising. I simply hit the “delete” button and moved on. It wasn’t until later that it struck me; that ad made me feel old. Not only do I know what a busy signal sounds like, I remember what it was like to have a party line in which the neighbors could easily listen in on the conversations. I can take comfort in the fact that at least we had a rotary dial phone and not a hand crank one. I am not quite that old.
Technological advances have created immense opportunities for our world. These advances have also created some very distinct challenges for institutions like the Church. How do we take an ancient message and communicate it in a modern way? The social media outlets certainly provide an avenue for proclaiming the Kingdom of God, but creating a message that grabs the attention of people in this forum is sometimes easier said than done. Are the new gadgets simply sending out a stale message which gets ignored and deleted?
Most cell phones are no longer just telephones. They are miniature computers which can do much more than provide the ability to have a conversation. Instant access to information from around the world has created a scenario that is unique to our generation. It has changed the landscape of shaping public opinion on topics across the spectrum. Institutions and individuals once revered for their knowledge and expertise are now viewed with very little regard and sometimes are even looked upon with disdain and contempt. A large portion of the population in our country ignores any moral guidance from the Church. This is not surprising. Unfortunately, Christian denominations are frequently in conflict over moral issues. If churches can’t agree on some simple basics like life issues and marriage issues, why would we expect people to turn to the institutional Church for moral guidance? Instead, people turn to their phone and search other outlets. These outlets have seemingly been more effective at getting their message out as compared to the Church.
There are moments when I yearn for simpler times. However, if I can continue to learn and adapt with the fast-paced changes of our times, I am hopeful and excited about the many ways we have to announce the Good News of salvation. The younger generation may be unfamiliar with a busy signal, but they are accustomed to a great deal of “noise” in their modern world. It is my hope to break through the noise from time to time and offer some quiet reflection utilizing an ancient message packaged in an attractive new wineskin. The Gospel message is still relevant. Prayer is still beneficial. Thankfully, in our conversation with God we receive neither a busy signal nor a prompt to simply leave a voice-mail.
Technological advances have created immense opportunities for our world. These advances have also created some very distinct challenges for institutions like the Church. How do we take an ancient message and communicate it in a modern way? The social media outlets certainly provide an avenue for proclaiming the Kingdom of God, but creating a message that grabs the attention of people in this forum is sometimes easier said than done. Are the new gadgets simply sending out a stale message which gets ignored and deleted?
Most cell phones are no longer just telephones. They are miniature computers which can do much more than provide the ability to have a conversation. Instant access to information from around the world has created a scenario that is unique to our generation. It has changed the landscape of shaping public opinion on topics across the spectrum. Institutions and individuals once revered for their knowledge and expertise are now viewed with very little regard and sometimes are even looked upon with disdain and contempt. A large portion of the population in our country ignores any moral guidance from the Church. This is not surprising. Unfortunately, Christian denominations are frequently in conflict over moral issues. If churches can’t agree on some simple basics like life issues and marriage issues, why would we expect people to turn to the institutional Church for moral guidance? Instead, people turn to their phone and search other outlets. These outlets have seemingly been more effective at getting their message out as compared to the Church.
There are moments when I yearn for simpler times. However, if I can continue to learn and adapt with the fast-paced changes of our times, I am hopeful and excited about the many ways we have to announce the Good News of salvation. The younger generation may be unfamiliar with a busy signal, but they are accustomed to a great deal of “noise” in their modern world. It is my hope to break through the noise from time to time and offer some quiet reflection utilizing an ancient message packaged in an attractive new wineskin. The Gospel message is still relevant. Prayer is still beneficial. Thankfully, in our conversation with God we receive neither a busy signal nor a prompt to simply leave a voice-mail.
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