Someone sent me this photo three years ago.  I’m on the right, 17 years old, with our high school tennis team at the ’97 provincial championships.  One event I remember from that trip was a drawn-out argument with one of my teachers.  He would sometimes subtly insult me and so I pushed back.  In our hotel, I left my soiled socks lying around, and, when he asked me to put them away, I refused in order to retaliate, and started leaving more socks around.  On the second night, he and other teachers sat me down about this and I remember saying something like: ‘I take full responsibility; it’s my fault.  I’ll pick up the socks,’ and I walked away because the conversation was over.

The reason I said that was because, a few months prior, I had heard about St. Dominic Savio, who died when he was only 15,  and how he would imitate Jesus: Other boys in school would get in trouble and he’d take the blame, like Jesus taking on our sins.  When I heard about that, I wanted to do something similar!  I had a new vision of who I wanted to be!  Even if my teacher was partially to blame for antagonizing me, I would take full blame.

St. Dominic was so eager to imitate Jesus’ sufferings that sometimes he went too far.  One time, he slept without sheets, and his mentor, St. John Bosco, said, “Don’t be crazy.  You’ll get pneumonia” (Butler’s Lives of the saints, March, 88), and added, “The way to be a saint, Dominic, is to be always cheerful, do your duties to the best of your ability, and give your classmates good example.  Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is always with you and wants your happiness”.  This is a great vision!

Today is the last of our three-part series on smartphones for our children.  Last Sunday’s survey revealed that 69% of us say that smartphones/devices are a concern for our family;

 

82% feel we need to use our phones better (the other 18% are liars);

and 88% are willing to make sacrifices with regard to our phones for our health and the health of our families.

 

This is a blessing: The Holy Spirit is giving us the willingness to improve and Jesus wants us to have the fullness of life!  This is what He teaches today:

“People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them [Mothers and fathers want Jesus simply to touch their children because they know He’s a miracle worker]; and the disciples spoke sternly to them [Three other times in St. Mark’s Gospel (2:4; 7:27; 10:48), people have to overcome obstacles to get to Jesus.  If we want to achieve Jesus’ vision for us, we need to overcome the obstacles].  But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant [This is the only time this strong word, meaning outrage at offense, is applied to Jesus] and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them [He’s so angry because He wants all people to come to Him!]  Life and happiness come from being with Him.

On Nov. 24, 2024 we have our Christ the King Challenge.  Which of the three diagrams will best represent our relationship with Jesus: outside of my life, a part of it, or the center?

If our smartphones help us make and keep Him at the centre, great!  But, if they don’t, we need to change how we use them.; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs [I was surprised to read that the Church Fathers saw in this line our rationale for infant Baptism.  You know how many Protestants don’t believe in baptizing babies?  For Catholics, we’ve always baptized babies so that they can have eternal life.  Parents, remember, the Church says babies are to be baptized within one month of birth, so that they may have eternal life].  Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it [Children don’t earn anything; that’s the way we receive Jesus’ kingdom, with trust.  Is each of us able to say confidently, ‘I trust in Jesus’?].’  And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them [So Jesus gives more than the parents wanted: He lifts the children up, hugs, and lays hands on them, which is the ancient Israelite practice.]” (Mk 10:13-16).

In order to get to Jesus, let me re-emphasize a few suggestions:

1) Most of us believe our smartphone usage has to improve, so maybe we should set limits on the times we use them, put them outside our room when we sleep, not bring them to the dinner table.

2) If we’re young, let’s not argue with our parents.  Just obey their rules when it comes to phones and devices.

3) We may also want to get together with friends and make group decisions like: no smartphones/devices during get-togethers, and be accountability partners for each other through Covenant Eyes, and you can all decide perhaps on a later age to give your children smartphones.

Here’s a new suggestion: Families should get involved in ministries.  We serve because that’s what Jesus did, and this is healthier than being on devices.  In addition, the principle of good example says that we adults should serve first.

Young men, if you have the maturity and love for Jesus, you can become altar servers (Andre De Vela); the reason it’s only boys here is because they should be open to discerning the priesthood and diaconate, which are about spiritual fatherhood (if they’re not open, they shouldn’t be serving); if you go to Mass every Sunday, have poise, have received Confirmation, and believe in the Church’s teachings, you can be lectors (Nichole Goh) (the reason for belief in the Church’s teachings is because we can’t stand here and proclaim God’s word and then think, ‘I don’t believe this stuff’); the choir (Chris Susanto) is open to all young people; Youth Ministry (Danielle Augustin and Aaron) is monthly on Sundays; Dwelling Place (Chris Susanto) is our monthly adoration on Wednesday night, along with healing ministry and social time.  Parents, you can find online or at the Welcome Booth ministries in which to volunteer.

My behaviour when I was 17 changed because I had a new vision: to become like Jesus.  What’s your vision?  Who do you want to be?  Here’s a short checklist of the person I started wanting to be when I heard about Jesus.  And, as your spiritual father, I hope I can eventually say the same thing about all the young people here:

–  Tries always to take responsibility for his/her actions.  Check.

–  Tries to imitate Jesus.  If you honestly try to be like Jesus, you’re 1 in 10,000.

–  Tries always to be cheerful.  Check.

–  Does his/her duties to the best of his/her ability.  Check.

–  Tries to give classmates good example.  Check.

–  Tries to keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is always with him/her and wants their happiness.  Check.

–  Doesn’t argue with parents/doesn’t whine but obeys them.  Check.

– Serves in at least one ministry at the parish.  Check.

Here’s my current version of the checklist:

–  Tries to take responsibility for the 1000+ people in our parish family.

–  Tries to imitate Jesus, particularly by dying to self.

–  Tries always to be cheerful, smile, and pursue the hope of St. John Paul II.

–  Seeks perfection when doing his duties.

–  Tries to love everyone as Jesus would have Him love.

–  Tries to keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is always with him and wants his happiness.

–  Tries not to resent suffering but obey the Father’s plan.

–  Serves in whatever ministry Jesus wants, no matter how disagreeable it is.

I have to be a good example; parents have to do the same for their children.  And this vision affects the way we use our smartphones and at what age we give them to our children.

All of us will improve based on Jesus’ vision for us.  We have received the fullness of life, and so we imitate Him, to love perfectly.