Focus amid distractions

Fr. Roy Cimagala

THIS is a big challenge we have today, considering the tremendous amount of distractions we have, both the legitimate and the illegitimate ones, the latter far outnumbering the former.

Yes, we need some distractions as a way of rest and relaxation. But in this human need, we should not lose our proper focus. Rather, we have to learn how to stay properly focused while having those legitimate distractions. We have to be most wary of our tendency to be so carried away by them that we compromise that focus.

At the moment, we can see a disturbing development involving many people, especially the young. A big segment of the people is getting addicted to games and the many other novelties played out in the Internet and in the new technologies.

They are now more self-centered and self-absorbed, prone to idleness, laziness and comfort and pleasure seeking. God and their relationship to others are all but blotted out of their consciousness.

For example, a priest-friend of mine told me recently how surprised he was to see a sudden gathering of people visiting the grotto in his parish grounds at certain times of the day. He discovered later on that they were there not to pray before the Marian image but rather to catch some Pokemon. And many other Internet games hook them.

Of course, we just cannot be condemnatory and dismissive of these games and fads. I am sure, there must be something good in them, otherwise people would not spend time and energy for them. We just have to learn how to channel this keen interest so that it is purified and can truly contribute to our human and Christian perfection.

It does not mean, however, that there would not be some prohibitory indications. There will always be a place for the “you-should-not” advice. We just have to make sure that the negative aspects of any pastoral attention given to the people are always done in the context of the over-all positive purpose of the ministry.

People should be able to see that. Otherwise, we will alienate them further.

This will require a certain development in the sensitivity and creativity in dealing with this new phenomenon. It would be good if more studies and consultations be done to see how to handle this situation.

What is clear is the challenge of how to make God the be-all-and-end-all of our life. We need to present Christ’s words in this regard in a way that would be attractive to the people of today with their peculiar sensitivity and culture. Let’s remember that Christ himself did everything to adapt himself to us to carry out his redemptive mission.

How can we present, for example, the following words of Christ to the people of today without scaring them: “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you?” (Mt 6,33)

Or when he said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it?” (Mt 13,45)

Or when St. Paul said: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God?” (1 Cor 10,31)

It’s not an easy task. One really has to be truly inspired by the Holy Spirit to be able to make these words hit a chord in people’s hearts. At the moment, what can come to mind are some words of Pope Francis when he said to the effect that priests should be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.”

It’s a more catchy way of what St. Paul said about Christ: “He (the Father) made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (1 Cor 5,21)

Again, it’s not an easy task, for the simple reason that a priest’s immersion in the world, if he is not so identified with Christ as to be strong and clear-minded, can suck him to the world rather than him taking the world back to God.

For this, we have to see to it that the spiritual life of priests, and of everyone actually, is truly vibrant, one that is regularly nourished through prayers, sacrifice, recourse to the sacraments, study of doctrine, continuing ascetical struggle, etc.

It should be a spiritual life that knows how to flow with the times, very sensitive and adaptable to new developments, not frozen and rigid in a certain mould.

E-mail: roycimagala@gmail.com