Sometimes social media is written
off as either a waste of time or otherwise.
Well, in my case, I can attest to the true power of Facebook, Twitter,
even Email. Obviously these services can
be addictive, yet at the same time, they can keep people connected, as well as
connect to likeminded and sometimes even friends who have moved to different
provinces or countries. Today is my
birthday, and I am a seminarian, and thanks to the power of social media, I was
blessed if not downright humbled by people taking time out of their day to send
me a wish, Blessing or thought. I
thought once again, who am I to receive this amount of love? I am a broken sinner, I have done too much…
(Yeah, even a guy with 17inch arms can get a little emotional…)
As I reflect upon my journey, I
can only see my smile widening.
Obviously there are some issues that I still would like to resolve, and
there are things that I did in my past that I’m not proud of. The ‘Marco’ that is being forced to die, is
the self-centered, ego maniacal, marketing salesman, womanizing creature that
can always come back to haunt me. God however,
has provided me with a few guardian angels, and one of them is my roommate in
the Rectory. A seminarian, who took a
step back in the formation, but in reality is miles ahead of me Spiritually.(The
REAL formation!) Thanks be to God for
his presence, as without him, I could easily spiral and create the Marco centered
universe. I am so blessed and truly so
happy to be a part of this community! I
also live and am being tutored by a Faithful Pastor and an unbelievable staff
of Grace filled people who can put any seminarian/priest to shame! The ‘Missione’ is enabling me to re-activate
my Italian, to adopt certain Salesian dimensions of Spirituality, and most
importantly, to truly live out a relationship with Jesus!
How does all that have to do with
social media? Well, the combination of
old friends and new, some I never met, all wishing me well caused my heart to
stir. I pray everyday that God will make
me the Pastor that I am called to be. I
pray that I am able to stand up for the Gospel, unashamedly. I pray that my past mistakes can be chalked
up to experience. The old me, it seems
will always be there, lying somewhere, I guess that is where the devil finds my
ego to stir me up. Through it all though,
these days finds me praying for the happiness of others, wishing success in
families to friends who have moved on, wishing comfort to friends who need it,
a good man to old girlfriends, and finally money to those who have none. Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle at
times, but again, nothing that my Spiritual Director can help me live with and
control, through God’s power.
I am beginning to realize why
sometimes Jesus leaves us with certain frailties. Perhaps if He gave us all the Grace we asked
for, we would forget that it is He who saves us, we don’t save ourselves, and
should we forget that? He will readily
remind you!
Mary, Help of Christians,...................................................ora pro nobis!
