Because it works.
And where our culture is heading now does not work.
We are the richest, most pampered culture ever to
exist. We have more license to do
anything we want. We have more options
for staying healthy than ever before. We
are the most traveled, most technologically advanced, information soaked
culture that has every lived on the face of the earth. All that we might desire comes more quickly,
more anonymously, less scandalously, and cheaper than any human being has every
enjoyed. In short, we are getting more
of what we want, when and how we want it, than anybody, anywhere, anytime, has every been so dumped on in
abundance. Even those we consider poor
(as opposed to destitute) often have cars, cell phones, a computer, cable, and
access to health care. Maybe not the
best, but better than most of the world enjoys.
We should be the happiest culture ever.
And we are not.
A recent report in the Akron Beacon Journal states that the
suicide rate among middle aged white people has risen 40% in the last
decade. Another report declares suicide
the third leading cause of death among teens.
Talk to any police officer (or school teacher) and he will tell you
about the sky rocketing use of drugs among students. Rape, particularly in our armed forces as
stated today in the newspaper, is on a dramatic increase. According to the International Press Service,
in the last three decades, the incarceration rate in the US has risen
790%. (Yes, you read that correctly.) And this does not even touch on the abortion
rate, the failure of marriages, the rise in abuse . . . (child abuse injuries on
the rise ABC news 1 Oct 12)
Does this sound like a happy nation? Does it sound as though we are on the road to
peace? Does it sound as though the
experiment is working in the least?
Would you suggest we keep moving in the same direction if this was a
company and you were in charge?
There was a talk given at St. Sebastian concerning faith and
culture and the forces working against the faith having an influence on our
society. Two pages of factors were
listed which included everything from our rugged individualism, to consumerism,
to technology, to our cultures call for tolerance, etc. . . I would have to disagree with the speaker
that these are our problems. These are,
rather, the symptoms of a flawed philosophy of life. The true problem lies in the great turn
inward.
Just for example: One of the main purposes of marriage is
the radical decision for the other. It
is the great turning outward toward another.
Our vows reflect this: “I promise to love you in good times and in bad
. . . all the days of my life.” There is
no expectation in those vows. There are
no conditions such as, “and I expect to be loved” or “under the following
conditions,” or “until I don’t feel it anymore.” If there has been a great turning inward, of course marriages are going to start
failing at a greater rate. Two people
are getting married in order to be
loved and not with the mind set of ministering
love. A couple staying together with
the intention of sucking love out of each other is doomed to fail.
Now, if two people abide by their vows, they will indeed not
only love, but be loved. But we don’t
get married to be cautious with our love.
It simply doesn’t work.
This great turning inward can be seen in every aspect of our
culture. Even art is often a masturbatory
creation displaying the artist’s inner life rather than channeling that
creativity to say something to the world.
(I know I’ll get argument there.)
This is why we can no longer stand on the deck of the
Titanic and worry about how the deck chairs are arranged. “No, no!
We Catholics like our chairs facing east! East!
We must have some chairs facing east!”
It is time to get off the deck and stand under the Titanic and lift it
up. We must get at the root causes of
things. This year I am devoting myself
to try some things at the parish. I
encourage you to do the same. I don’t know
what. Be creative! You are husbands and wives, parents,
students, organizers, prayers, professionals, owners, purchasers, voters,
artists, public figures, writers, thinkers, policy makers, changers, and
followers. You are Catholic, Christian,
human, and a full citizen of the United States.
At the very least, when you
come across something that makes you say, “Isn’t that just too bad?” don’t let
it go! Say a prayer about it.
Together we can change the world and restore some joy.
4 comments:
This family is all-in, Father!
"Don't let it go. Say a prayer about it"...
AND in that prayer, ask, "Lord, do you want me to do something about it?"
AND when He answers, DO IT!
This reminds me a lot of what Pope Francis said to the cardinals before he was elected, although he was speaking of the Church Herself. He spoke of an illness of the Church in its being too "inward looking," "living in itself, of itself, and for itself." He calls lay people not to continue to clamor for positions within the walls of the Church, but rather to carry the "cross of the layperson"' serving as a "leaven of the love of God in society." ("Francis and the Reform of the Laity", National Catholic Register. 4/11/13)
So all in all, if the illness is "the great turn inward", the prescription that can buoy up the shipwreck of humanity is to inspire all (individuals, groups, and institutions) to, in the language of The Theology of the Body, make total, sincere gifts of self to others. The gift of self starts with a surrender to and union with God and then, inevitably, if this union with God is genuine, to spouses, family, the Church, the community, and the world.
Wonderful post, especially about the fact that all these problems that we see in the culture are *symptoms*. I came for the cartoon blog posts (which I love!) and stayed for the thought-provoking ones...
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