Making real my work of love

A few days ago we celebrated the Ascension, when Jesus' parting words to his disciples sent them forth, to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. I read a reflection saying this was to be the last time Jesus' voice would be heard on earth. And certainly, for his disciples this would be so - henceforth they would only hear him in their cherished memories, and in their hearts. But it occurs to me that two thousand years on, his voice continues to speak: in our hearts, of course, but also in our pondering of scripture; in our Eucharists, our communities, our sacraments, our service and in our encounters... Jesus continues to speak to us, and challenges and calls us, in our attitudes and actions as much as in our speech, to speak his words to others: words of consolation and reassurance; words to strengthen, nourish, and to heal; words of forgiveness, and of hope and peace... And always, always, words of LOVE, and a reminder of the everlasting presence he promised us, until the end of time. 

Today is the 60th World Communications Day, and in his message to us all, Pope Leo has called us to focus on preserving human voices and faces ...so that we may fully live our humanity through love. It can only be humans, not bots, who are the face, the voice, the hands and the loving heart of Jesus! 

This is a challenge and a mission especially for those of us who spend time on social media, where our words and our witness can indeed reach to the ends of the earth, in a world increasingly divided by conflicting voices, and hostile and angry words, especially across the internet. Which brings me to this prayer by Esther De Waal, which a sister used the other week in an online meeting... 

I programme my computer
with the love of God.
God be with me now
as I call words into being.
May they make real my work of love.
May they join the work of creation.
Called from nothing,
uttered over chaos,
bringing order.
Amen 

'I programme my computer...' wrote De Waal, twenty or thirty years ago. And now we'd say 'my smartphone, laptop, ipad...' Whatever I use for my blogs and reflections and social media posts, for connection and fun and being serious, I need to programme my device with the love of God... In the midst of ragebait and discord... Programme it with the Love which abides in me; which has been poured into my heart by the Spirit, that it may flow from my heart to my fingers, and with each tap and click and swipe, onto the keys and the screen. And thus may I only call God's words into being, making real the work of love for which I was created...

In our fractured and stormy world, how are you making real your work of love?