Family is indeed under assault by the U.S. culture. Though not by the forces its conservative members assert. Family is not under assault by people who love each other, no matter their gender or ethnicity, their religion or lack thereof. People who love each other teach us how to care, how to be compassionate, and how to express kindness. All of these are the essence of family and reflect the Feast of the Holy Family celebrated this Sunday. Family, whatever its composition, is where we learn how to be human. Family and learning how to be human are under assault by conservatives who value capitalism. Capitalism does not value family. It values consumerism.
Consumerism teaches us to value things over people and is destroying family by doing so. It’s replacing family as the primary wisdom guides in children’s lives. Consumerism’s promoters are calculating in their use of psychology to misguide young minds. In doing so, they pit children against their parents. Under consumerism children are taught to devalue their parents. Parents become useful objects in helping children get other objects they want. If parents fail in this objective they are to be dismissed or disliked for failing to get the objects consumerism has taught kids to desire. Parents are being sold out as things to manipulate capitalists – by business owners, advertising executives, and marketing directors. None of these capitalists love us. They do not feel compassion for us. They do not show us kindness. They do not do any of this while at the same they do the antithesis. The relationships in capitalist work environments do not breed love nor compassion. Capitalists operate from a competitive relationship model within a cut-throat industry that lacks kindness so it can increase financial gain. Capitalism dehumanizes people and divides families.
The Feast of the Holy Family reminds us that we are called to live in personal intimate relationships with people; loving each other sharing compassion, and showing kindness. Our humanity depends on these qualities. Our humanity depends on family.
Prayer: Spirit of Togetherness, help us live as one family of God.
Question: How has consumerism influenced me?
December 29, 2013 Gospel Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Feast of the Holy Family