A Matter of the Heart

I facilitated a 3-day workshop-seminar to educators and youth ministers this week on “Making God’s Word alive in the life of digital youth.” It was part of the 2^nd John Paul II On-going Formation on Communication for Youth Animators and Catechists with the theme: Doing Ministry in a Digital World organized by the DB-CLAY Office.

All of us were made aware that Scriptures remain important in the life of faith in each Christian. But a great task await everyone who deals with young people today. The digital technology has created a new landscape and with it a new language. If we are to be effective ministers and communicators of the faith, we need to understand these digital kids whom we are dealing with and step into their world to take part in nurturing them.

Ian Jukes, an educator and president of InfoSavvy Group published a book last January, in collaboration with some others:  “Understanding the Digital Generation.” It explores the characteristics of the new digital generation and how education can affect their learning experiences. He explains the digital divide  that the world is now made up of the digital native and digital immigrants. The digital natives are described as “screenagers” because they grew up with the screen in front of them or with the mouse in their hands. Digital is their first language. Modern technologies have become part of their identity shaping who they are and what they will become.

The other group are the digital immigrants –  those of us who come from a non-digital world. Because digital is just our second language, we have a language problem. Thus all the more do we need to make an effort to catch up with them. According to Jukes, new studies have shown that the brains of the new generation have been physically and chemically altered to adapt to the new landscape creating and re-creating new circuitry and new connections.

This means we also need to adapt, create and re-create new modes and models to present the Word of God to be understandable to the digital generation. We need to learn and speak their language in order to connect with them and continue to educate them in the faith. We have to evangelize these digital natives from where they are. In the past, when missionaries came to evangelize, the first thing they did was to learn the local language.

If we are to reflect on how Jesus communicated his message, surprisingly he used creative adaptation. We believe that Jesus is the Word of God incarnate. St. John tells us that the “word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). He is also “the image of the invisible God” says St. Paul in writing to the Christians of Colosae (Col 1:15). Moreover he is the missionary of God and apostle of the Father.

In his years of public ministry, Jesus showed himself as a master communicator. He showed God’s love to humanity. He was so effective because he was both the messenger and the message. There was no dichotomy between his words and his life. In imparting his message he used stories. His stories teach, inspire, correct, change people by touching their mind and their heart. He crafted simple word pictures called parables. He told the stories of the “Good Samaritan,” “The Prodigal Son,” or the “Parable of the Sower.” He used analogies and visual images like sheep, lilies in the field or birds in the air.  They seemed childish to critics but they had depth and spirit that made them timeless, powerful and unforgettable. He adapted his language to his audience by using common images.

The same challenge is presented to every communicator of the Gospel of Jesus today. Yet to be a good communicator of the faith, it is basically not a matter of mastering certain techniques or strategies. It is above all, a matter of being mastered by the Master and His conviction. In the end, education is a matter of the heart.

My Homily - St. Stephansdom, Vienna Cathedral

I am a visitor of Vienna already for almost a month. One of the things I miss doing back home is driving. Here I am not permitted. So I end up being just a passenger. Being on the driver’s seat gives me a sense of autonomy and power. I am in control. I’m in command. I can direct myself and go wherever I want. I realize this experience of simply being a passenger is an experience of faith. I always want to control my life.

But faith is an act of surrendering. God is telling me: “Hey Randy, if you really believe, hand over the keys of your life to me! He invites me to relax; take a back seat and let Him lead. Let Him drive. Let Him take control!

My reaction is that of fear and sadness. I fear because I am afraid where God will lead me; where will He bring me? I may not be ready. I also feel sad because I feel surrendering is painful and requires a lot of self-denial. I have to give up my autonomy to direct my life just as I want.

And like the disciples in today’s Gospel (Luke 17:16-21), I need to pray: “Lord increase my faitha!” I am afraid to commit. I’m afraid to surrender. I’m afraid to completely trust in You!

The 1st Reading taken from the book of the prophet Habakkuk is a challenge to faith. The prophet complains: “How long Lord? I cry for help – you ignore. You don’t intervene. I see so much ruin, misery, violence, destruction and strife.”

And the Lord replies: “Don’t quit, Habakkuk! Don’t give up. Don’t you loose hope. Trust me, I am in command. I am in control.

Yet its so difficult to trust and believe in the midst of severe test, or feel the “absence of God” or experience His seeming “inaction.” When you see the good, the just, the honest suffering and in pain.

These are the times when we need to pray: Lord, increase our faith!

In 2006, a contemporary Christian Girl Band made up of 3 sisters known as the “Barlow Girl” released a song entitled: “I believe in love.” It’s chorus goes like this:

“I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining

I believe in love even when I don’t feel it.

And I believe in God even when He is silent.”

These lyrics are based on an inscription believed to be written by a Jewish refugee on a wall outside Cologne, Germany during World War II.

If in our life we feel pain. We feel crushed, feel cheated, feel discouraged. Don’t stop believing. Don’t praying: Lord, increase my faith.

I would like to end with a story. In a certain village there lived 3 men – Alex, Nilo and Ben. Alex was a blacksmith, a drunkard and a dishonest man. Nilo was a farmer, a God-fearing person and hard working. But he need anger management because he can’t control his temper and many times hurt his wife and children. Ben, however, was a lay minister, generous, prayerful and considered a holy man.

One day by a strange twist of fate the 3 of them became lepers. They had to leave their homes and live outside the village. At night they would gather together to pray for healing. After 3 weeks Alex the drunkard was healed. After one year, Nilo the farmer was cured. But what Nilo could not understand: why is been still a leper after 3 years? Perhaps his holiness if a sham. He is a fake holy man after all!

One night in a dream God explains to Nilo why.. Alex got well after 3 week because his faith is only up to 3 week. Yours can only last for a year. But Ben’s faith is total. Whether he is cured or not He trusts me. I am everything for him.

Nilo wakes up. He looks outside the window. As he gazes far outside the village, he still sees Ben praying. He has not stopped believing. He has not stop hoping. And Nilo kneels and prays deep in his heart: Lord, increase my faith!