Globalization of Indifference

St. Paul exhorts us: Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

In his message for Lent, our Holy Father Pope Francis writes, “One of the greatest challenges I would like to address is the globalization of indifference.

“Usually, when we are healthy and comfortable, we forget about others. We are unconcerned with their problems, their sufferings and the injustices they endure. Our heart grows cold. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don’t think about those less well-off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference.

“As individuals, too, we are tempted by indifference. Flooded with news reports and troubling images of human suffering, we often feel our complete inability to help. What can we do to avoid being caught up in this spiral of distress and powerlessness?”

Holy Father goes on to explain the mission of Mother Church:

“Her mission is to bear patient witness to the One who desires to draw all creation and every man and woman to the Father. Her mission is to bring to all a love which cannot remain silent. The Church follows Jesus Christ along the paths that lead to every man and woman.

“In each of our neighbors, then, we must see a brother or sister for whom Christ died and rose again. What we ourselves have received, we have received for them as well. Similarly, all that our brothers and sisters possess is a gift for the Church and for all humanity.

“Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that our parishes and our communities may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!”

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Islands of mercy in a sea of indifference. Islands of warm-heartedness in a world with a cold heart.

We must take the risk of loving everyone who comes anywhere near us. We must take the risk of turning off every electronic thing and loving actual people who live nearby.

No one has the guts to take such risks without the confidence that comes from living in communion with Christ. How do we live in communion with Christ? There is only one known way: the sacraments of the Church. And the sacraments of the Church are not available on facebook or anywhere on the internet or on tv. They are not available in anyone’s own flipping comfortable house. Available only in church!

One simple way to fight the power of globalized indifference. Simple, courageous, and consummately loving: attend Mass every Sunday.