I’ve been trolled, so I was happy to hear Pope Francis put out a general ‘stop trolling for Lent’ message. Of course, His Holiness expressed it more elegantly and went further – turn off the TV, disconnect from the phone. He lamented a world “inundated with empty words” where people “insult each other as if they were saying ‘Good Day.’”
So – as a wordsmith, should I give up words for Lent? Hopefully, this blog won’t be full of empty words and I will certainly avoid insults at all costs.
But how can I meaningfully observe Lent in 2020? For most of us, a retreat is not a possibility (and poor Pope Francis has had to cancel his because of a cold).
Turning off the TV is only effective if we act on the rest of Pope Francis’ suggestion – that we read the Bible. Turning off our phones is probably the more difficult ‘give up’ choice, and he suggests that if we do, we turn to – connect with - the Gospel instead. That’s challenging. That’s Lent.
In a previous Lenten message, Pope Francis said “Indifference to our neighbour and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians.” The more migrants and refugees who knock on our door, the more indifferent governments seem to become. Can I stay on social media in order to campaign for asylum for our Syrian neighbour fleeing from the devastation of his country? For the 40,000 neighbours who have been displaced in Sudan’s West Darfur state in following inter-communal clashes this year? For my neighbour in DR Congo, raped by rebels, her husband killed and her children made to watch their own unfolding tragedy? Do I stay off social media and not ‘share’ SCIAF’s Lenten appeal for women like that particular neighbour?
I understand what Pope Francis wants – a stop to the gossip, the electronic hair-pulling and face-slapping that seems to have become the norm. The show-offy ‘This is my lovely child/home/dinner/weekend/holiday’ that makes the rest of us feel inadequate.
Back in 2014, the Pope was happy to acknowledge the good that social media can do. How sad that in six short years, our ‘screens’ have become arenas as deadly as any in Rome 2000 years ago. No lions, but plenty of souls torn to shreds.
I’ve reminded myself of the definition of Lent - a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
So – Jesus withdrew. He had no phone, no TV, no social media distractions, no chocolate – but he had been surrounded constantly by thousands of people wanting a bit of Him. He went into the desert and the Devil tried to get into His head.
In comparison, Pope Francis is just talking common sense and decency. Even so, I may be wrestling with the good and evil of social media. Campaign for Justice and Peace? Or a blank screen?