LOL
For Sunday, January 31, 2010
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Luke 4:21-30
The average sixth and seventh grader sends 43 text messages a day. That’s almost 1,300 messages per month. It’s no wonder that many popular family plans for cell phones include unlimited texting.
Recent research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project shows that almost half of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel (November, 2009). And fifteen percent of teens indicate that they have been recipients of nude images in a practice known as “sexting” (December, 2009).
Such statistics can be worrisome to parents these days. Action on Tuesday by the Transportation Department to prohibit truck and bus drivers from sending text messages on hand-held devices can only add to that concern. The ban is effective immediately nation-wide, extending a prohibition that currently exists for all drivers in nineteen states to commercial vehicles anywhere in the country (). An additional ten states have restrictions for beginning drivers, most of whom are teens.
And, it’s not only drivers that are at risk. A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the dangers of walking while using electronic devices. It began with the story of a 25 year-old who was talking to her grandmother while walking down the street in San Francisco. She ran in a parked truck !
While parents may have concerns about cell phone and computer use by their children, the solution is not in becoming technical luddites, eschewing any modern communication device. Rather, it is to learn how to use such technology wisely and appropriately, a point that the pope made in his message for World Communications Day which was released on Sunday. In it, he particularly encouraged priests to make use of new media-the Web, texting, blogs, e-mail-as ways of communicating the Gospel. Paul’s words about love in his first letter to the Corinthians were communicated in what was for its day, innovative media-a letter to a community. Paul, who was undoubtedly one of the greatest communicators in the early Church, didn’t hold back from using what tools were at his disposal to get across the message of love.
And families can do the same.
The radio show “Here and Now” aired a segment on Tuesday about texting as a parenting tool. In it, they describe the valuable ways that parents can stay connected with their teens by texting. It’s worth listening to.
Even more touching is a wonderful 12-minute story told by Adam Gopnik on the “Moth Radio Hour” #3 [Register for free to listen to it. It's the second segment beginning at minute 13]. Gopnik describes how he enters into the life of his 12 year-old son, Luke, through instant messaging. Over time his son informs him of the meaning of various abbreviations like “brb” (be right back) and “gtg” (got to go). Gopnik continues the story, explaining how it was self-evident to him that “lol” meant “lots of love.” After six months of misunderstanding one of the classic texting/IM abbreviations, which really means “laughing out loud,” Gopnik’s son finally explains to his dad what “lol” really means. Gopnik concludes his story by describing how even the miscommunication is close enough to carry onward the relationship of parent and child, and how they still end each night with an IM concluding with “lol.”
Like Paul, Jesus too offered some new meaning for old words. Some people were not able to bear it. But others could see and understand the message being shared. Don’t be afraid to share lots of love.
Paul Michaels
Prayer
Creator God,
source of all life
and sustainer of all that is,
your Son revealed new meaning in the words of the prophets
and taught with authority the message of your truth.
Give us courage to spread your word
and zeal to share your love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Notices
REGIONAL WORKSHOPS ON THE NEW ROMAN MISSAL
The Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions are jointly sponsoring twenty regional workshops for priests and diocesan leadership on the implementation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal from April through November. Information on the two-day workshops, including a list of sites, is on the FDLC Web site at: http://fdlc.org/Roman_Missal/RM_Workshops.htm.
INVITE A FRIEND FOR LENT
You can invite a friend to take a “reflection break” each week during Lent. Just forward your “Wednesday Morning Connection” e-mail or the blog Web page link, and encourage them to sign-up for themselves. Each week they’ll receive a reflection from Liturgical Publications Inc. (LPi) that connects the Scripture readings and current news headlines. The sign-up link is: http://www.4LPi.com/WMC.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES HELPS HAITI
Catholic Relief Services continues to assist the Haitian people following the devastating earthquake. Go to their web site (http://crs.org/) for updates on how to contribute and get parishioners involved.
PRAYER AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
Diana Macalintal, from the Liturgy Office of the Diocese of San Jose, offers a prayer in English, Spanish, and French after the earthquake in Haiti. The prayer can be freely downloaded and reproduced for use in parishes. Find it at: http://dsj.org/being-catholic/worship/a-prayer-after-the-earthquake-in-haiti.