“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-13).
To answer this week’s Connecting Point question, we must first consider what we “confess” and “believe,” which can either be in accordance with the teachings of Christ and the Church…or not. As faithful Catholics who believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we attend church and regularly receive the sacraments, and we can probably say that we are on the right path. Yet, in all matters of interaction with others, do we always “talk the walk?”
In this digital world, it is also increasingly important to consider how our faith is reflected in everyday communications, especially on social media. Social media is a free-for-all platform of expression that invites uplifting encouragement but also some very harmful interactions. Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms create a virtual space wherein we can say things that we might not normally say if face-to-face with another person, which is especially dangerous in the heat of a disagreement. Conversely, the thoughtful and prayerful messages we put out there can help reflect the virtues of love, humility, compassion, respect, and forgiveness.
Having a “Gospel filter” is crucial (but a real struggle!) in this time of socio-political volatility, but sometimes, it’s better not to say anything. In the Gospel of Mark (7:15), Christ says, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Our anger, frustrations, and hurts are real and valid, but they can defile us when we harm others with them.
In order to align with the Gospel values of our faith, we are called to control our impulsive responses to others, whether in person, via text, in an email, or on a post. When we feel our unfiltered selves becoming angry or extremely emotional, we may need to take a deep breath, hold our response, and pause to ask, “What would Jesus say?”
As Lent begins, we are invited into self-examination for spiritual growth. Let us all reflect on whether and how our faith shapes our responses.
