Addicted to Knowing
One
Why the Appeal of Headlines?
What is the appeal of the news? Why are we so addicted to knowing so much about what’s happening in areas over which we have practically no control whatsoever, things for which we have no responsibility?
And related to that question is this one: why do we seem to have such a relish for bad news why do we love dirty laundry? War, disease, natural disaster, political chaos and intrigue – this is the stuff headlines are made of.
But the question is, why? Why are we so interested in what doesn’t concern us, and why are we so taken with ugly, tragic, violent, scandalous headlines? And is there anything Jesus has to say on the subject?
Two
How Christ Dealt with Headlines
As it happens, there was one occasion where Jesus gave us an example of how to handle two headlines. We hear it in the Gospel of the Mass today from Luke 13:1-9.
The first of the headlines had to do with a group of Galileans whom Pilate had just slaughtered. When Jesus heard the news, He said, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered thus? I tell you, No: but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Then Jesus moves on to a second headline, a grisly disaster story, “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No: but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
This is maybe the only time when Christ gives us any news commentary, any public punditry, and what does He teach us about how to deal with the news?
Three
Trying to Figure Out the Ultimate Course of Things
Probably the main motivation for watching the news is that we want to “stay on top” of things, be well-informed and responsible. We want to try to get a handle on the way things are going. Essentially, the world looks like chaos, like it is out of control and we say, “Look at this chaos, I need to take control of this mess! So, I need to know what is going on so I can control it.”
We are addicted to the news because we are trying to control the things that cause us fear, worry, and anger. This would be like looking at the chaos at the beginning of the world, Genesis 1:2, “Now the earth was a formless void, it was chaos and there was darkness everywhere.” And then saying, “Wow, this is trouble! I need to know about this and do something.” Nope. In Genesis 1:2b-3 “God's spirit hovered over the water. God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light.”
We are not in control of the world and we don’t have to be. And Jesus says, very clearly, you have no idea.
Why did these Galileans get killed and not those Galileans? Don’t act like you know. You don’t. Why did these people get crushed by a falling tower and not those people? Don’t act like you know. You don’t.
The destinies of peoples and political parties is not in your hands, and it has not been revealed to you, no matter how many commentaries you read or listen to. The fate of presidents and nations is in God’s hands. It’s known to God. What’s in your hands is your own spiritual destiny. And that knowledge has been revealed to you.
The Holy Spirit is in control, guiding all things to good. Now, the Holy Spirit does everything through Mary. We can’t and we don’t have to control the world and every variable that might effect our lives. All we have to do is belong to Mary, live in union with her, like Jesus did, and do what she tells us to do.
Four
Focusing on Other People’s Problems instead of Your Own
There is a second reason we have this all-consuming hunger for bad news, for dirty laundry which the media will happily indulge.
If we focus on other people’s problems, about which we can do nothing, then it’s a very convenient way of distracting ourselves from our own problems, which we are obliged to do something about.
Here again, the way Christ deals with the two gruesome headlines should be a major wake-up call for all of us: Don’t you worry about trying to figure out why the Galileans got slaughtered, or why that building fell on those people. What you should be worried about is the fact that if you don’t repent of your sins, if you don’t change your life, if you don’t persevere in clinging to Christ, who is your only salvation, if you don’t do that, then I don’t care how awful the stuff you read in the headlines is – it will be worse for you on the last day.
Five
Reading the News from the Perspective of Eternity
We will all read, watch, or hear about the news at some level. But a genuine Christian take on the news will most often, and most forcefully, remind us not to dwell too much on other people’s problems. A genuine Christian take will remind us that God is in control of the world, and that we are responsible for changing what we are responsible for, what we can control, namely ourselves.
Jesus responded to the headline news by saying, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” The fundamental response Jesus is looking for is conversion, to turn away from sin, turn back to God and grow in virtue and goodness.
The path to conversion is very simple: Meditation, Resolution, and Examination.
Meditation: A resolution is to remember and practice some idea from Jesus each day. For example today I will not look at the news. Examination: do an examination of how you lived that day each night. Those who are committed to daily meditation on the Word of God and a daily resolution and an examination grow in virtue and goodness. Those who don’t grow in vice and to grow in vice is to become more vicious. Those who have the habit of daily meditation and a daily resolution are joyful, virtuous and they serve others.
Those who don’t, even if they go to Mass regularly, as they grow older they get worse not better, they become complainers, racked with vices and usually only think of themselves. The proof is in the behavior and I observe it, I see it.
So, what’s the takeaway? If you want to be happy and at peace, don’t watch the news, instead, watch Jesus in Daily Meditation on the Word of God and then pick something simple and concrete from your meditation to try to put into practice that day and do an examination of how you lived that day each night. If you do that, you’ll be at peace and happy and a lot better to live with!
Suggested Resolutions:
Choose one resolution for today to help you grow closer to God, or create your own. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
Letting go of the news can be difficult, but try to challenge yourself to a week without news and reflect on what your life looks like without it.
Often, all of our conversations revolve around news and gossip. Try and filter out news from your conversations this week.