As we begin another school year here in Lawrence, we are reminded about the importance of Corpus Christi – both the parish and the broader meaning of the word. Corpus Christi is ‘The Body of Christ’ a reference to the Eucharist but also the community of the people within the Universal Church. The opening of schools gives us an opportunity to take a closer look at our lives and the lives of our children.
So, with sincere apologies for those who might be looking for an uplifting beginning to the school year, what I am going to write about is the troubled reality of our youth today. Robert Putnam of Harvard has documented a dramatic decline in what is called “social capital.” What he has exposed is the obvious, what you and I know: the fabric of support and connections to family, friends, neighbors, the old tightly-knit neighborhoods, parish churches, local organizations have disappeared.
Then there’s isolated suburban living and the dominance of the virtual world of smart phones and personal devices. Surveys show us that today’s teen spends between 6 to 8 hours a day on screen time. Considering the amount of sleep teenagers need, that is almost half of their waking hours.
We see social fragmentation everywhere in our country. Family ties are clearly much weaker and mutual obligations are less binding than in the past. Divorce rates remain high and more Americans and Catholics are opting out of marriage entirely. Corporate loyalty no longer exists. Individualism has destroyed community. On top of this the social fabric has further frayed as the world has been stripped of universally binding truths.
In short, there is no coherent narrative anymore to bind us together. A vacuum has been created, and for many, alienation and depression fill the void. This leads to the increased rates of depression and suicide among our youth, even more than the general population. Another factor is the sharp decline of religious practice. Too many families, including many of our parish school families, have dropped out of organized religion, which is unfortunate as there is a huge body of evidence pointing to how the practice of religion, prayer and practices like gratitude and forgiveness can reduce the rise of depression, drug abuse, and aid in recovery.
Church attendance is by its very nature a social activity that prevents isolation. Religious faith gives a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection. A community of faith provides meaning and an identity beyond appearances and inner worth beyond the external number of “likes.”
The reality is that today we are all too willing of victims of the social media networks, which teach that our value lies in our usefulness and achievements, in what we do rather than who we are, and sadly we’ve passed these convictions on to our children who are pressured to perform, to up their resumes to get on the right team or into the best school, to do WELL – not necessarily to do GOOD, and that is lamentable.
Above all, personal freedom and choice is seen as the highest good, only the word “Freedom” today means being totally unchallenged and uninhibited in doing what you want. If art is whatever the artist says it is, so too are morals. If I think it is right, then anybody else’s comment is “judgmental.” So, walls remain, bridges are not being built, and we settle in as the divided nation and society that we are today.
So, yes, we can support parishioners and our school parents to encourage and practice involvement in our community here at Corpus Christi. We can even require a written “Commitment” form so they may receive the privilege of a Catholic school education and faith formation. However, until we carry a sense of the Holy Spirit within us, until we offer something or SOMEONE bigger, until we embrace a love that cherishes us as we are made by God, until we value “we” over “I”, until we learn to do good with as much fervor as we are told to do well, the sadness and division will continue to rise.
The bottom line is this: as our schools open, we are provided with an opportunity to take a closer look at our lives and those of our children. How will you work for a Holy conversion and change of your heart and lives, and help our youth to know the true value of life?
God Bless,
