Mouths of Men and Machines

 

Choosing to follow Jesus and ignoring other voices

11/16/2025

Luke 21:5-19 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony."

Sometimes people’s words can leave a deep impact on us, even if they are just joking. I will never forget how several years ago I bought a new Chevy Impala. I ran into Jeff Meares and wanted to show off my new car. He asked: “What are you a nun or something?” Have you noticed how monastery parking lots are full of Chevy Impalas? I never noticed that till he said it.

Another friend had a really rich response when I got inexpensive (cheap) new tires for my Nissan Rogue. She remarked: “Hey, awesome, you got girl tires. At Christmas I’ll buy you some real tires.” We like to think, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” And that is true for jokes.

But sometimes words can do far more damage, and then it is no joke. A few weeks ago one of our seminarians, Joshua Osborne, called to interview me for a discussion about polarization in society and in the church. How words are deeply dividing our country and our congregation. He asked how I handled hot-button topics like the Charlie Kirk assassination and the mass deportation of immigrants?

I admitted that it was indeed very hard to express the teachings of the Church accurately in today’s culture. Why? Well, because many people have already made up their minds as to their beliefs and don’t need me to teach them. They are either “conservatives” or “liberals”. They happily agree with some things I say, “Yay!” or angrily dismiss other things I say, “Boo!”

Joshua explained to me that today people tend to align themselves with “mega-groups”, that is, categories or labels that encompass one’s entire social identity and value system.” That is, the words of podcasters and politicians shape some Catholics' beliefs and behaviors more than the words of the Church.

This past week the United States bishops met in Baltimore. The out-going president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, shared this comment: “In October I mentioned to Pope Leo XIV that some of our faithful listen more readily to sound bytes, the sirens of political discourse, or whatever confirms their conclusions and partisan leanings instead of hearing their pastors and us [bishops].” That is, the words of sound bytes do a lot of damage when they distort the true Christian faith.

In the gospel today, Jesus warns his followers whose words they should carefully avoid. He urges: “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them.” You see, in every age words from conservatives or liberals, traditionalists or progressives try to usurp the place of Jesus and his Church. They pretend to be more important than what the gospel teaches.

I was visiting some very devout elderly Catholics recently. And after dinner we were watching TV. The elderly man suddenly remarked: “You know, President Trump doesn’t like Pope Leo. I don’t think he’s a very good pope either.” You see, the words of a mere man mean more to some Catholics than the words of the Vicar of Christ.

My friends, we live in the Information Age, the Age of Words. Anything we wish to know is immediately at our command through the words of Alexa or Siri or ChatGPT. We swim in an infinite sea of words and endless data that can in effect drown us so we no longer hear the imperative words of the gospel and the Church.

But even all the millions of words of men put together will not finally bring us the peace, joy, and truth we seek. Only the Word of God, Jesus Christ can do that. And that Word of God abides in the Scriptures and the sacraments faithfully proclaimed up and down the ages by the Church. In other words, the words of men can indeed harm us when they attempt to replace the Word of God.

Can I give you some very serious and rather hard homework today? When you go home, for an hour, turn off your television and radio; unplug your computer; switch off your phone (not just to vibrate mode either); remove your apple watch; take your air pods out of your ears; and unplug Alexa, Siri, or Gemini. For one solid uninterrupted hour shut the mouths of men and machines, and do not let them utter one word.

Then in that golden silence, open your Bible and turn to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and read the unfiltered Word of God. Only in the Word of God, Jesus Christ, will you find the peace, joy, truth and eternal life you are looking for. And then you may also discover the infinite difference between sound bytes and Scripture, and know which one you should follow.

Praised be Jesus Christ!