Rouse is such an electric word. It’s defined as something you do to stir up, to excite … to arouse someone from sleep, or awaken them.
I thought about this word when I read this line from today’s first reading.
Consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.
Rousing is something a lot of us do these days. Thanks to the transformative power of the internet and social media, we all have the ability to “rouse” up our friends and followers on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
With a single click of a keyboard button, we have the power to send our thoughts – whether they be filled with wisdom, humor, prejudices, convictions or other emotions – to anyone who might be out there looking for something upon which to grasp in an age of confusion.
More often than not, unfortunately, many use this power of social media to paint their opponents into the extremes … to victimize, harass and dilute the essence of their arguments, if not their very existence.
Sad to see this happening … but it happens every day.
Throughout the history of our Church and of mankind itself, such power to persuade – to arouse – was limited to those in authority; those who controlled the printing presses; those who knew how to write; or simply those who knew how to effectively communicate.
These days … it’s pretty much whoever has a keyboard and wi-fi. No education, no wisdom required.
Here is another thought.
Historically, in middle English language, the word rouse meant to “to shake the feathers” from someone. To cause someone who is tired or no longer interested to become active; to cause an “emotional response” in someone.
Or if you look at the Latin word … provocationem, it means to provoke or to call forth a feeling or an action.
I think of this definition of rousing, or provoking, whenever I meet people in casual gatherings and we start talking about faith. Often they will look at me and say, “I’m a recovering Catholic” (wink, wink) which means (I presume) they were born, raised or at least baptized in the Catholic faith, but have since “seen the light” and moved on to bigger and better things.
I also think of this when I am at Mass and look around and see (mostly) men processing up to the front of the Church to receive Holy Communion … WITH THEIR HANDS IN THEIR POCKETS! These are the same guys who think it’s NOT COOL to sing a hymn or a Responsorial Psalm.
To all of these … both inside and outside of our faith, I desperately wish to “rouse” them back into the fold.
I pray that “recovering Catholics” make an honest examination of conscience and decide – once and for all – who is God. Who calls the shots? Is God, God … or are you looking for a way to make YOU God of your life, your decisions, your lifestyle, your way of life?
I want those lackadaisical Catholics who attend Mass out of obedience or habit (and not much else) to embrace the beauty of our Liturgy; to know that the songs that are chosen for a reason; the words of the responses, actually mean something!
That this Sunday Mass is NOT a performance for you to sit and view and occasionally nod with a sly smile of understanding. It is interactive. You – WE – are as much a part of the Mass as the man up there in the collar!
I want to rouse.
I want to catechize.
And then … I see the last part of the definition of this curious word.
To stir up purposely; to provoke a fight; to incite to anger.
Who wants to pick a fight over the Mass or the expression of faith?
Are we not supposed to simply go along in order to get along?
All of this leads to questions I have.
How do we rouse people today? How do we provoke them? How do you get someone to start attending – and appreciating the beauty of Mass – every week! How do you provoke them to actively participate in the Liturgy?
Many of my friends are starting to walk away from social media … they are shutting down their Facebook pages, killing off their Twitter pages. They are tired of all the hate and the constant politics.
Hard to blame them.
But I won’t do that. I don’t want to walk away from a very large segment of our population that – like it or not – has been raised to get its education, news and information from their cell phones.
They don’t subscribe to newspapers.
They rarely watch the evening news.
They have never heard of Walter Cronkite.
So, we are left with social media – the hand we are dealt with.
But here is a final thought …
My mom always told me, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Keep that in mind whenever you are tempted to hit SEND on a response or reply to something you find horrible.
There is a time for debate and good-natured argument, but it’s usually not on social media, where sentences are short, along with patience. Instead, use social media to spread love and positive comments. Save the true evangelization efforts for those you encounter every day.
Trust in God that He will bring to you – in person or in some personal communication – that person who needs to hear what you have to say.
Do not fear that you will say the wrong thing. Be prepared. Pray and ask God to help you answer the tough questions … and you WILL get them.
Then, simply open your lips … or let your fingers start tapping the keys … and let God answer the questions.
Let us choose to rouse and provoke for the right reason.
Let us rouse for love and good works.
Stay positive, my friends.
We plant the seeds, God will do the rest.
