Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 16 February 2020

Fr Robin Gibbons

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I doubt if any one of us does not use social media in some form or another. I hear friends express their horror of Twitter and Facebook, ' I don't use such things, they cause too much trouble', they say, but then are quite emboldened to spend hours on their mobile phones or using email correspondence! Not one of us is exempt from at least one contemporary method of communication!

Yet those who have misgivings about this use of media have good cause to be troubled! There are too many instances of cyber bullying, internet grooming, cheap and very nasty insults on Twitter, not only name calling but comments that are downright offensive and possibly libellous and in some cases can lead to personal harm. It's there in front of us, and Christians are as much at fault, perhaps even more so because of the inference and reach of what they do!

I'll give an example, perfectly ordinary kind people, whose religious faith matters to them, take to Twitter to pour out their perceived grievances (fed by crafty manipulators with their own agenda), and then become very vicious and nasty. Normal rules of civility seem to go, the comments made, even in the so-called name of Catholicism, are foul indeed. Those dissatisfied with Pope Francis are often loud in complaint, and truly offensive in their criticism, some even branding him a 'schismatic' pope, but they forget one fact in their theological ignorance: he is after all the Bishop of Rome and Pope, through whom Bishops, Priests and the People of God are, in union with him, part of the Catholic Church! For being in schism means cutting ourselves off, by breaking communion with what the Pope represents, not he with us. It's a mad, mad world we live in!

So as we move quickly into Great Lent in a few weeks time, it is good to be given through Matthew's Gospel, one communal sin that we urgently need to deal with, because it is out there in the here and now. We see it in the abominable tweets from persons in Government, we may have received it in unpleasant remarks about ourselves, but what we haven't yet realized, is how much of a sin it can be.

So here's the thing! Matthew in Chapter 5 has Jesus teach us that to lead others into even thinking about breaking the Commandments, is itself a grave sin, he utterly condemns leading others astray, but more than that, Jesus equates our inner and outer selves as a whole, such dreadful acts as murder are linked to the process of evil, beginning with the intentions we have in our heart.

In one small Aramaic word Jesus gives us a real conscience about what we do on social media. Here it is: Jesus warns us that calling another person insulting names such as "raca" is sinful. What does raca mean? It was a derogatory expression meaning "empty-headed," insinuating a person's stupidity or inferiority. It was an offensive and derogatory term, a name used to show utter contempt towards others. It works by insinuating that somebody is inferior to us and deserves our contempt. We don't need to look very far to see that kind of thing at work in all sorts of ways in today's world!

What do we do? Well as Jesus tells, us we reject not only the evil behaviour, calling it out as it is, unacceptable and sinful , we also go and check our thoughts and minds and souls, and in so doing we are also called to bring others to repentance, point out that what is said, and written, and thought -is wrong!

For murder begins in the heart, the corruption of our attitudes towards others can lead to abominable acts and we, who are supposed to be the salt, leaven and light of the world, will be judged on what we do, or say, or think in terms of malice, against others: "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve" (Jer 17:10)

Lectio Divina

Psalm 139 (vv1-14,23-24)

O LORD, you search me and you know me.
You yourself know my resting and my rising
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down;
You know all my ways through and through.

Before ever a word is on my tongue,
You know it, O LORD, through and through.
Behind and before, you besiege me,
your hand ever laid upon me.
Too wonderful for me, this knowledge;
too high, beyond my reach.

O where can I go from your spirit,
or where can I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there.
If I lie in the grave, you are there.

If I take the wings of the dawn
or dwell at the sea's furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me;
your right hand would hold me fast.

For it was you who formed my inmost being,
knit me together in my mother's womb.
I thank you who wonderfully made me;
how wonderful are your works,
which my soul knows well!

O search me, God, and know my heart.
O test me, and know my thoughts.
See that my path is not wicked
and lead me in the way everlasting

Saint Francois de Sales - Introduction to a Devout Life - Section 4

11. Anxiety of Mind.

Examine yourself often, at least night and morning, as to whether your soul is "in your hand;" or whether it has been wrested thence by any passionate or anxious emotion. See whether your soul is fully under control, or whether it has not in anywise escaped from beneath your hand, to plunge into some unruly love, hate, envy, lust, fear, vexation or joy. And if it has so strayed, before all else seek it out, and quietly bring it back to the Presence of God, once more placing all your hopes and affections under the direction of His Holy Will…

.…If you can lay your anxiety before your spiritual guide, or at least before some trusty and devout friend, you may be sure that you will find great solace. The heart finds relief in telling its troubles to another, just as the body when suffering from persistent fever finds relief from bleeding. It is the best of remedies, and therefore it was that S. Louis counselled his son, "If thou hast any uneasiness lying heavy on thy heart, tell it forthwith to thy confessor, or to some other pious person, and the comfort he will give will enable thee to bear it easily."

Fr Robin is an Eastern Rite Catholic Chaplain for Melkites in the UK. He is also an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.