Making Effective Use of our Prophetic Voices

Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp

The theme of this year’s Communication Sunday, as chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is: “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.” The Holy Father invites the Church to be prophetic in a digital age. As a Church, we are the sign of God’s Kingdom on earth, called to make His truth known to the world.

The Lord deals with us as one people and desires that we live as a family. However, being members of His household does not make us immune to suffering in a challenging world where Godly standards are often opposed and truth is treated as mere trash. In the face of social injustice, we are called to stand together and confront the ills that afflict humanity in a hostile environment.

We must therefore protect and preserve our identity so that our voices may be heard clearly and authentically. Before His ascension into heaven, the Lord prayed earnestly for all who would believe in Him, asking that they be preserved in a hostile world. He said:

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them… I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.”

The Lord knew what would befall those who follow His ways. He Himself faced opposition in this world. Hence, His prayer was a covering of protection for all who would trust in Him.

However, Peter, in the second reading, exhorts the community to endure whatever suffering they may face on account of their commitment to Christ. He calls everyone to live good and upright lives so that whatever suffering comes their way may be meaningful and honourable. He says:

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” Standing for the truth is a world full of deception comes with its own price. We must be ready to bear with whatever comes our way for our choices for Christ.

Moreover, as Christians, our moral integrity helps us to recognise our voices as sacred. By our baptism, we are prophets and must use our voices responsibly in the digital age. According to Pope Leo in his letter to the church on this communication Sunday, we must:

1.Protect human dignity in communications.

2.Defend truth in the digital age.

3.Use artificial intelligence responsibly.

4.Preserve authentic human relationships.

5.Promote peace and ethical journalism.

6.Reject manipulation, misinformation, and emotional exploitation online.

Let us work to preserve our unity and ever be ready to be channels of God’s love in our relationship and communication.

May all we do and say minister grace unto others. Amen.