The common philosophy of Mark Zuckerberg and Pope Francis
I gave a talk about Pope Francis on Monday evening, and in I spent a lot of time commenting on the magnificent paragraph 49 of Evangelii Gaudium:
Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ.
Here I repeat for the entire Church what I have often said to the priests and laity of Buenos Aires: I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.
I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.
If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life.
More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37).
By chance I read an article about Facebook yesterday. There is a slogan that is often quoted at the Facebook offices, apparently; and if it doesn’t say much about theology, it certainly sums up Pope Francis’s pastoral approach to mission and his call to the Church – in just five words:
MOVE FAST AND BREAK THINGS
Tags: Mark Zuckerberg, Pope Francis
Alleluia!
‘my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe.’
Ah thats where I went right. I was never fearful of being shut up because My Church structure never gave me a false sense of security with her rules that made harsh judges.
I say Ditch the habits.
Open the windows and the doors.
Let the Sonshine in and out.
Welcome mothers and Sr ‘s who LOVE ~ back to the very heart of the Church
and not away in communities elsewhere.
Re learn, teach and practice the beauty of inter-dependence and togetherness
heal the brokenness.
Like Jesus showed us from the outset.
And then that healing loving balm might just pour fourth and bless all others.
There is often far too much considering and contemplating and sticking-to-the-rules in an attempt to stay aligned to the mainstream.
A very simple philosophy of mine with Youth Ministry is to ‘be where the young people are’ and a good starting point is to ask them where they are. Young people are savvy, see your direction of travel a mile off, yet welcome the opportunity to express their views and be a part of the vision – it’s our job to support them, guide them and be with them when they need us.
And that often involves moving fast and breaking stuff !
Great article and Phil is spot on – we have to meet young people WHERE THEY ARE AT and not where we want them to be or where we think they should be (which is usually not the right place for them at that moment anyway). As a Confirmation Leader I found time and time again that listening to young people, taking on board what they are saying and then acting on it with them, not against them, bears fruit. Most times what needs to be broken are our own fixed ideas. It’s a two-way process but I would say we adults are invariably the richer for the encounter.