Social Media and the Defiling of Our Hearts

I had a great moment of clarity one day last summer.

Sitting alone in my backyard with the fading sunlight on my shoulders, I had a beautifully honest phone call with a friend. As the traffic buzzed by and the day's heat faded into evening, we let the ache from the past months just ripple out into the conversation.

While either of us could have easily made a disheartening list of all of the "hard things of 2020," I shared that what pierced my heart all the more so were the imprudent and uncharitable words that I discovered anytime I hopped on social media.

At one of the most sorrowful times in our history, we (us dear Catholics included) were often resorting to harsh insults, vicious condemnation, and a severe lack of charity. And let me tell you . . . the desire to always have the last word in any social media debate was (and still is) on fierce display. I saw it everywhere, and I'm sure you did, too.

"It must grieve His heart so much," I told my friend, "to see us being so unkind."

Jesus could have easily added "social media drama" to His list of things that defile our hearts (Mark 7:21-23) and how true that would have been! I think about the times I've assumed the worst of that "idiotic poster on Instagram."

All the times I've made rash judgments. All the times I've been lacking in mercy and unwilling to see the image of God in the Facebook profile before me.

My heart has been defiled, too, and I am so sorry.

Let's console the heart of Jesus today by praying for a restoration of kindness, charity, and forgiveness on social media.

Especially in our own actions, Lord, help us to be compassionate with our words, prudent in our judgements, and always loving in our gaze.

Console the heart of Jesus. // Karen Schultz Click to tweet

listen to today’s devotion

Lord, help my social media actions and guide me to Your Sacred Heart.