Pope Francis: The Internet Must Transmit a Church Which Is Home to All

[anthonymarie]

visnews-en.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-internet-must-transmit-church-which.html

Pope Francis has said:

“We must ask ourselves – and here I come to the third step – are we up to the task of bringing Christ into this area and of bringing others to meet Christ? Are we able to communicate the face of a Church which is ‘home’ to all? The challenge is to rediscover, through the means of social communication as well as by personal contact, the beauty that is at the heart of our existence and our journey, the beauty of faith and of the encounter with Christ. Even in this world of communications, the Church must warm the hearts of men and women. … The great digital continent not only involves technology but is made up of real men and women who bring with them their hopes, their suffering, their concerns and their pursuit of what is true, beautiful and good. We need to bring Christ to others, through these joys and hopes, like Mary, who brought Christ to the hearts of men and women; we need to pass through the clouds of indifference without losing our way; we need to descend into the darkest night without being overcome and disorientated; we need to listen to the dreams, without being seduced; to share their disappointments, without becoming despondent; to sympathize with those whose lives are falling apart, without losing our own strength and identity”.

What is meant by “a Church which is ‘home’ to all”?

How can we best put this message into practice?

 

[DelsonJacobs]

People feel welcomed in their own homes. Home is that one place where (usually) we are not judged, treated badly, where unkind words are not the rule of the day. It may not be perfect, but it is usually that one spot where we can find solace, relief, and peace.

St. Paul wrote:

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win over those under the law. To those outside the law I became like one outside the law—though I am not outside God’s law but within the law of Christ—to win over those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.–1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

Are we as welcoming as Paul tried to be regardless of the type of person he was around? On the Internet it can even be more challenging because for some reason people often leave manners behind when they blog or make comments online. There is a lot of judgment, argument, debate, distrust. We tend to forget that we are not communicating with faceless avatars and screen names. Each person on the Internet, on Twitter, Facebook, even here is our neighbor—and likely a stranger, meaning Christ in disguise.–See Matthew 25:35, 40.

Christians often don’t treat each other any more kindly than others on the Net. Even on this site there can be a horrible lack of Christian behavior towards our fellow posters. Some even try to “entrap” others with subjects just to stir up debate and cause distress in others! Dare we forget Christ died for the ones we are chatting with, even in forums like this? Do we mistreat those for whom Christ gave up and purchased with His precious blood?

The time has come to show love, mercy, tolerance, forgiveness, and welcome the stranger we meet here on the Internet. By doing so we are showing that the Church–whether in person or via the Net–is a home for all seeking it. We should do everything in our power for the sake of the gospel to be a presence that makes others feel at home when they encounter a Catholic.

 

[SaintAugustine]

I think the Catholicscomehome series does a great job of that…

 

[anthonymarie]

People feel welcomed in their own homes. Home is that one place where (usually) we are not judged, treated badly, where unkind words are not the rule of the day.

Thank you, I like this interpretation.

Christians often don’t treat each other any more kindly than others on the Net

Yes! I fall into this trap myself sometimes and yet Jesus has said:

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. John 13:35

 

[stuart12]

By reading my blog linked below of course