Beware of the culture of triviality

WE have to be careful not to fall to triviality. The
profusion of data, images and messages that are now technologically
generated and circulated can easily confuse, intoxicate and
desensitize us to the point of developing a culture of
triviality—everything would be considered of the same value or nothing
is considered serious.

            With this attitude, we can lose our sense of balance and
direction, priorities are thrown haywire, and we mostly likely would
be led only by our senses, feelings, instincts and passions, that at
best can only cover so much of the reality we are in.

            Even if we still have a good use of our reason and
intelligence, we would find it hard to discern the impulses of faith
and grace, the promptings of the Holy Spirit that for sure continue to
come to us, since our life is always a shared life with God, in spite
of our freedom and independence.

            In fact, the sense of the sacred vanishes. Faith and
religion are not only ignored. They are increasingly attacked, accused
of being anti-human. Talking about developing a supernatural outlook
is now considered trash talk.

            We need to be properly grounded and sober, and at the same
time flexible, able to flow with the times that are getting more and
more complex. This is now an urgent requirement that should be met
fast and adequately. Let’s hope families, schools and other
institutions realize this and start to act about it.

            Fact is there are now many young people falling to
triviality, and a host of other anomalies that usually go with it. To
mention a few, we can cite vulgarity, laziness, disorder, addictions
that now go beyond substance or drug addiction.

            We can now talk about psychological addiction that may be
fed mainly by smut and porn. From there, all sorts of perversions can
come. And when not promptly corrected, they can spread quickly,
causing a kind of epidemic.

            And since these irregularities are more moral than
organic, more psychological than physical, the urge to justify them
can easily take place. This is what we are seeing in some developed
countries that are actually getting into decadence. And we are
starting to see signs and symptoms of these problems in our country.

            In fact, we now have moves to legalize these
irregularities in an effort to make these practices the new normal in
a new world order where God is stricken out. The world culture is
becoming a Godless culture.

            St. Paul already warned us of this eventuality. “The time
is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having
itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit
their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and
wander into myths.” (2 Tim 3-4)

            We have to see to it that we are properly guided and
directed even as we sail through life’s seas. For this, everyone
should try to come up with an effective plan, consisting of certain
practices of piety organically linked to his daily activities so that
the love of God and others would always throb in his heart.

            The proper structures and atmosphere in homes, schools,
offices, etc. should be created and maintained, so that this plan of
piety can really be lived. Very crucial to this would be a continuing
program of formation and education that should be pursued in an air of
freedom and never of coercion.

            Obviously, for this purpose, the Church leaders should be
in the forefront. But they should also train others—especially parents
and teachers—to be experts in this plan of piety so they, the parents
and teachers, can transmit this plan to children and students through
their words, actions and the very testimony of their own lives.

            In this task of formation, we need to highlight the core
truth that all of us who are creatures and children of God actually
have a natural longing for God, though that longing is often thwarted
by a number of factors. We just have to find ways of recovering it
when it is lost, and to reinforce it especially when we face trials.

            That formation has to be wholistic, covering the human
aspect that is always basic, as well as the doctrinal and spiritual
aspects that would include teaching others how to pray, to value
sacrifice, to wage a lifelong ascetical struggle, to have recourse to
the sacraments, and precisely to take care of their on-going
formation.

            This formation would prevent us from falling into
triviality, with mind focused and heart burning with love.