We are all familiar with the well-worn phrase, “God writes with crooked lines.” The idea that the path that we travel with God is often not straight nor is it always easy to discern and yet throughout the journey God guides us and leads us through the twists and turns to the ultimate destination in heaven.
These crooked lines to heaven deal with the coincidences in our lives and the conveniences in our daily travels. Pope Francis in his words and actions reminds us that the coincidences in our lives are the prodding of God to serve him and to move from the comfortable conveniences that tempt us to take the easy roads and the paths that hinder the greatness that God has created us to be as his daughters and sons. The coincidences challenge us to be disciples who proclaim the Gospel message in our daily lives.
Earlier this week I was looking at some tweets on my Twitter account. One of the groups I follow on Twitter is “The Porn Effect” which fights against the negative and destructive impact on pornography on the lives of family and youths. There was a YouTube link that I went and viewed. Underneath the video, as with all videos on YouTube, there is a list of similar subject matter. As I looked down the list of videos almost all of them were from the same web site but one stood out as not the same, it was a basically a pornographic video.
This is where convenience and coincidence collide. I could have conveniently ignored it and moved on, but in faith speak, this was the coincidence of God’s prodding me to take notice and action against this invasion of sin. We know that the age when a child is first exposed to a pornographic image continues to become younger and younger. Focus on the Family reports that the age when children are first exposed to pornography is now 8 years old. (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/when-children-use-pornography/when-children-view-pornography) Yes, 8 years old!
Believe me, I do not enjoy writing on this subject and I am afraid to write on this subject and yet, in the coincidence of that simple YouTube moment the movement of God’s grace has prompted me to move from the convenience of turning away to the seemingly easier road and to walk this path of the cross with our Lord Jesus. Because in the end it is not that I am ignorant of the problem; whether in the confessional or at my computer I hear and experience the seemingly endless intrusions of pornography into my life and the lives of all people in the world.
The good news is that Jesus is with us and for us in this battle and with his healing grace we will not be devoured. (1 Pt 5:8) And our fight against this invasion against true love must begin within our families. You are not alone in the fight. The Diocese of San Jose with Our Lady of Peace Church is offering opportunities of prayer and information in this battle. On November 13 and 14 at Our Lady of Peace two nationally recognized lay evangelists, Jackie Francois and Matt Fradd, who will be speaking and helping us understand how we can protect our souls and those of our children from the devastating sin of pornography. Information about the conferences and registration can be found at, www.riseba.org the event is free and there are sessions for families on Friday evening (Nov 13) and on Saturday (Nov 14) in the morning for our youth (13-17) and young adults on the same evening.
Do not be afraid…but know that this sin is a reality in so many lives. Do not be afraid…
God Bless
Fr. Mark
www.pornproofkids.com
www.theporneffect.com
www.focusonthefamily.com