Posted by The WORD in Other Words by Frt Kevin Pizzaras SVD (Portugal) for Tuesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
The phenomenal rise of the Influencer in the social media world is quite interesting. A Social Media Influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry….has access to a large audience and can persuade others…”. (See https://www.pixlee.com). Millions of followers are glued to every opinion or recommendation they give on a certain product or service. Somehow, in the digital age, they have the power to determine societal values, norms and morals. The more followers and likes they gain, the more they are able to project a substantial and persuasive image.
Our Lord, in today’s gospel, is being accused indirectly by the Pharisees of being a bad influence to his disciples who broke the tradition of the elders. Jesus knows that the attack against his disciples is in truth an attack not only against his teachings but above all his person. By challenging these traditions, he breaks away from the Old Law and introduces the New Law – the Good News of hope, justice, and love that he proclaims.
In Jesus, borrowing the words of the philosopher Marshall McLuhan, “the medium,” is in fact, “the message!” Our Lord, beyond and above any influencer, offers himself as the Message par excellence! With him, we can be 100% sure of what he thinks, says or does. In him, there is no division of ideas and actions. He walks his talk. For indeed he, the Divine Word, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
If Jesus were a social media influencer today and you were an Instagram or Twitter user, would you follow him? Would you be able to follow his teachings? Could you accompany him till his passion and death on the cross? Would you become his avid follower?
Source – Bible Diary 2020
