The book is a study of the generation of young people. The author calls them the IGeneration, as they are the first generation that has never known a world without iphones and ipads. The author notes some trends amongst IGen’ers born between 1995 and 2012.
For example, whereas previous generations were eager to get out of the house and find their own way in the world, iGen’ers seem to be slow to move out the house.
I remember when I was growing up, I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license. It meant getting out of the house, exploring the world. On average IGen’ers are much more reluctant to leave the comfort and safety of the parental home, with free wi-fi and free food. They’d rather stay at home and play video games and text their friends, than going out for social interactions. Sadly, the author of the book shows, one of the consequences of this screen-induced introversion is a lack of social skills and another is depression. IGen’ers describe themselves as unhappier than previous generations.
The book’s chapter on religious attitudes causes us some concern. It’s not a secret that since the 1960s there’s been a growing negative attitude toward organized religion: many baby boomers and gen-x’ers describe themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” But, as recently as the 1980s, 90 percent of high school seniors identified with some religious group. But now in 2017, only a third of 18-24 year-olds claim to believe in God, at all. Less than that pray on a regular basis, and less than that attend Church services.
What happened in the course of 20 years? Well, screen time has certainly replaced prayer time. And it’s also replaced family time. And this has been detrimental to religious faith. Vatican II described the family as a domestic Church. In other words, the family is where the basics of Christianity are learned and lived out. And when those family religious practices are replaced by sports, entertainment, not to mention the secular propaganda found in nearly every pop song, video and movie, the virtue of religion is never developed.
I am in such awe of so many of our parish families, who make the sacrifices to come to Church every week, who are providing Catholic education for their children, who seek to make Christ the center of their family life despite all the competing activities out in the world. It takes much more effort than in generations past; the culture today simply does not support religious practice—and our young parents deserve much credit for their energy and sacrifices.
Today’s Solemnity of the Holy Family, within the Christmas octave, reminds us that family is to be a bedrock of faith. And our Scripture readings today speak of God’s plan for families.
Sirach for example describes a sort of family ideal: a father and mother set in honor and authority over their children, children revering and praying for their parents, obeying them and caring for them when they grow old. The biblical ideal is not meant to be discarded simply because it is difficult. It is the timeless word of God. Most families are works in progress, and that is okay. But each family member needs to take personal responsibility for the good of the family, to living up to the ideal set by God.
We all know of truly tragic and heart-breaking family situations – divorce, children lost to drugs, squabbles over inheritances, misunderstandings, even betrayals – but even in those situations, God’s word speaks: “Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another”
A few years ago Pope Francis suggested some practices to ensure peace in the family: he encouraged the use of three phrases, hopefully you’ve heard and used them before: please, thank you, and I’m sorry.
The word “please” helps us to develop a respect for the time and effort of others. The phrase “thank you” helps us to appreciate the dignity of others, who give of their time and treasure for our good. And the phrase “I’m sorry” helps us to mend the brokenness caused by selfishness.
These three phrases: “please, thank you, and I’m sorry” help us to develop the humility needed for the Christian life. For when we are able to say please, thank you, and I’m sorry to each other, we learn the importance of saying, please, thank you, and I’m sorry to God.
In the Gospel for this Holy Family Sunday, we hear that after the birth of the Christ Child and after he was presented to God in the Temple, the Holy Family returned to their home town of Nazareth, the Christ child “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”
How can your family grow and becoming stronger, become filled with God’s wisdom and favor?
The family that prays together stays together. Time should be set aside every week, perhaps Sunday nights, to put down the screens and turn off the televisions and to gather as a family, to sit down with the Sunday scripture readings again, to perhaps pray a family rosary together, and to pray for one another. You’ll never regret time spent in family prayer, praying with your spouse and your children, but, most of us regret spending so much time with the IDevices. For those IDevices so often lead us to focus inordinately on “I” and not “Us.” You really might also want to consider a family rule of not bringing the idevices or even televisions into the bedrooms, as they are known to distract us from the rest we should be getting.
On this Holy Family Sunday let us commit to making our families places where the Christian faith grows and becomes strong, where the favor of God comes to rest upon us, as we make Christ the center of our family life, through prayer, charity, and bearing our trials, anxieties, and hardships trusting in God’s grace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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