Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours

Christ Has No Online Presence but Yours

This past Sunday’s readings call us to join the apostles in attesting to the power of God’s love in our lives, to spread the Good News by being witnesses to Christ.  In secular American society, this isn’t always easy – talking about our faith can be a daunting prospect in a world that places concern for the individual above attention to the transcendent.  Of course the best witness to our faith is to live it, to be, as best we can, Jesus’ voice and hands and breath in this world, to embody his love.  But maybe there’s a little something else we might do… with one small click of the mouse.

If you’re reading this post, chances are you are somehow part of an online community, whether you have a Facebook page or a Twitter account or simply an email address.  What if, when you read a post that moves you -- a post that gives voice to your faith, your beliefs, your values -- you shared it?  You “liked” it?  You sent it to friends?  Think how many more people would see that post, just because you did so.  Meredith Gould, who writes for IgnatianSpirituality.com, has revised St. Teresa of Avila’s famous prayer, “Christ Has No Body” with an eye to the new technologies available to Christians today: 

Christ has no online presence but yours,

No blog, no Facebook page but yours,

Yours are the tweets through which love touches this world,

Yours are the posts through which the Gospel is shared,

Yours are the updates through which hope is revealed.

Christ has no online presence but yours,

No blog, no Facebook page but yours.

Jesus asks Peter, Do you love me?  And Peter responds affirmatively, three times.  How do we tell God that we love him?  Perhaps we could start by sharing our stories... 

Source for "Christ has no online presence":  Meredith Gould

Image source:  Catholic Memes