In his post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit, Pope Francis wrote a message to young people to warn them about the danger of consumerism. The Pope wrote “a young person should always have a critical spirit. Saint Basil the Great encouraged the young to esteem the classical Greek authors, but to accept only whatever good they could teach. It is really a matter of being open to receiving a wisdom passed down from generation to generation, a wisdom familiar with human weakness and not deserving to vanish before the novelties of consumer society and the market. The world has never benefited, nor will it ever benefit, from a rupture between generations. That is the siren song of a future without roots and origins… We need to reclaim our right not to be sidetracked by the many sirens that nowadays distract from this pursuit… This, then, is your great challenge: to respond to the crippling refrains of cultural consumerism with thoughtful and firm decisions, with research, knowledge and sharing.”
Today is Black Friday, the day when millions of Americans head to the malls, complete with the scenes of shoppers camping out in front of stores, bowling over security guards, and pushing and shoving the day after Thanksgiving. One of the prime targets of Black Friday is the youth. The market wants to see the young men and women growing up and as consumers. There is something deeper in the consumer culture in which we live, that is, the way that consumer culture has crippled the Church.
Being a friendly and nice Church is important, but we often forgot that Jesus is not simply a product of the marketplace. The question is whether we are treating the Church and Jesus as different than trying out a steakhouse or a movie theatre. As people who come to Macys or a yoga studio expecting some services, we often have the same expectations of the Church, expecting it to also provide nice services. On the other hand, the Church leaders are worried that people might never come back because they do not provide good services. This consumer-oriented fear is often translated into their preaching from the pulpit. The pastor wants to make sure that the parishioners will not run away because of their message. So, priests begin preaching that everything is okay as long as you do not hurt anyone. Jesus loves them and so He will forgive everything they do. After all, they do not want to preach about sin, hell, eternal damnation and repentance because such words will scare people away.
In the scripture readings today, Daniel described the figure of “a human being” (Son of Man) in the midst of the four beasts. This scene speaks to the eventual everlasting Kingdom that will arise after the destruction of the previous four earthly kingdoms, represented by the four beasts. Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man influences the Gospel as it becomes Christological with Jesus. Matthew speaks about the Son of Man coming in his glory with all the angels. Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man reminds us that Jesus Christ is not a product that we can return with a receipt or a gadget that we can replace when there is a newer technological product. As the Son of Man “will sit on the throne of His glory,” we know that Jesus buys us; we do not buy Him.
In prayer today, imagine the heavenly scene of the Son of Man coming in His glory with all the angels. Ask the Son of Man to be the center of your life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.