As mass communications become more efficient and social media becomes ever more popular, the devil has found more effective ways to distract us. In the past, the devil had to pull out all sorts of ideas from his bag of tricks to lead us down the path of sins and drive us farther away from God. Now, the devil doesn't even have to lift a finger to separate us from God. The devil often occupies our minds with chaotic thoughts and fantastical ideas, leaving us no space for contemplating things that belong to God and no time for prayers. We've become so preoccupied that we can't even quiet down to hear God's voice.
The devil often tempts us with glamour that dazzles us. For instance, social media facilitates connections with friends, helps us to be informed about current issues, to learn new things, and to expand our horizons; or perhaps, the internet can be a source of relaxation and entertainment, opening us to a world of new knowledge through films or endless video links. These activities seem harmless enough on the surface; however, when we fail to moderate ourselves, we may fall into addiction and waste our life away. When we invest our time in trivialities, we are neglecting the most important thing.
Further, when we are overloaded with too much information, we become easily distracted. Such is the very ingredient that diverts our attention from what we need to do: to care for the needy and to spend quality time with God.
In today's society, when we ask how each other is doing, most will respond in unison, "Very busy!" / "Too busy!", as if those who are not busy are anomalous, losers, or worthless! Even retirees would claim that they are busier than before their retirement. However, when asked about what makes them so busy, most would say, "I don't really know! Time just flies!" Such is Satan's deceit, tricking us into wasting our time on frivolous things. During the pandemic, many Catholics have been spending more time on the internet, browsing through religious materials and participating in religious studies online. Their daily schedule is, indeed, jam-packed! They may feel intellectually satisfied; however, they may be filled with a spiritual emptiness that is devoid of peace and stalls their relationship with God. We are reminded that knowing and being close to God is not about quantity but quality.
If we hope to have a high-quality encounter with God, we need to let go of the "many things" that distract us, so that we may attend to God's voice and receive His love that is revealed to us in silence.
Unfortunately, in today's world, what separates us from the love of Christ are our cell phones, social media, as well as our attention deficit!
Reflection
When you're busy, do you feel that you are more worthy, confident and respected?
Would you admit that you have been distracted by the devil and have fallen into the trap of neglecting the more important things?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
主耶穌，我時常都是心靈願意，肉體卻軟弱；請讓我下定決心，戒除陋習，使我常能與祢相偕，並住在祢之內。
求主幫助我不要分心，時時記得天主與我同在，不要浪費時間在上網，虚渡光陰
今日的避静，真是當頭棒喝， 苦心自問，自己也是被魔鬼引誘，不知不覺地為很多繁瑣事務而分心，而忽略與主耶穌親近的時刻。 主，祈求祢賜我堅決的心戒除陋習， 每日找時間靜下來， 細讀聖言，與主親近。
不讓魔鬼有機接近,我要有誡心,
有時感到迷網,要休息,要頭腦清
醒,不怕改变陋習,改進意向
主耶穌，我經常會有很多借口為一些瑣碎事並忽略了你，求你帶領我不要讓一些瑣碎事與你隔絕。以上所求是靠祢我嘅主耶穌基督的名而求。願光榮歸於父，及子及聖神，起初如何，今日亦然，直到永遠，亞孟。
🙏🙏🙏天主 其實我知自己是跌入魔鬼嘅圈套 但軟弱的我 一次又一次陷入他們的圈套不能自拔 但主我今天就祈求祢帶領我 指引我 走出這圈套能專心與你相遇🙏🙏🙏
主耶穌，我時常為了很多繁瑣的事，不重要的事而忘記主的存在，陷入魔鬼的圈套，求主賜我思寵，使我每天都能與主相遇，聆聽主的旨意。
從來人類的文明發明和發展，都是一把「雙刃劍」，懂得善用，可造福人類，不然，就是禍害的根源。最明顯的例子，「炸藥」的發明，原是為興橋建路之用，可惜卻被自私的統治者，作為攻擊他人的武器。
到了今天，資訊網絡的使用，的確給人方便快捷，看，因為疫情，我們不能見面，但透過網絡，就可以隨時隨地與對方在視像上溝通會面。不過，藉着今天的分享，真的當頭棒喝，事實我們每天都被這看來方便的訊吸引着，卻漸漸跌入這幾乎不能自拔的漩渦裏……
我們真的要懂得善用天主所賜給我們的智慧，不然，不但成了那些物質的奴隸，最可悲的，是被那無情的魔鬼所牽制，失去了原來人性的真善美愛。主，請幫助我們曉得擺脫這些魔誘。
多謝你的提醒, 你說的真是金石良言, 正是今日信仰生活的一大挑戰。讓我們祈求天主, 使我們能善用這工具, 而不致成為它的奴隸。
While I am not enslaved by my cell phone, I must admit that I do spend more time on it during the pandemic. When one trick does not work, Satan can always find another Archilles’ heel from me. There has always been a wrestle with the devils and on occasions I do forget that God is always with me to fight the battle. God, please help me to stay focused on You and give me perseverance to gaze on things that draw me closer to You!
主！我渴望提升與祢相遇的素質，建立密切的關係，專心聆聽祢的聲音，獲得祢的愛情！
主
求祢使我能抓緊時間聆聽祢的話語，排除阻礙我與祢相聚的繁瑣事情，不要誤墮魔鬼的圈套。因我們的主基督。亞孟。
Dear Jesus, teach me to be like Mary, sitting at the bottom of your feet and listen to you in my daily life instead of be Martha busy with my daily work.
我是個可憐的奴隸，手機、網路、及分心任意的支配我。
這個避靜像是閃電驚醒了我！我要爭脫牢籠！
我要主耶穌做我的主人，唯一事奉祂。
天主聖神，求祢幫助我把所有的時間交給主耶穌。
對呀,我實在有太多的「許多事」,主,憐憫我。
“主耶穌基督多謝你提醒”
求主讓我下定決心 ，
解除這些陋習，
要學習怎樣去選擇及分配時間，
學習放下許多無關重要嘅鎖匙，
重質不重量， 好好地與你相偕 ，並住在你內。
求主俯聽我的禱聲🙏 亜孟
主耶穌基督多謝你提醒
求主讓我下定決心 ，
解除這些陋習，學習怎樣去選擇及分配時間，放下許多無關重要鎖事“重質不重量”，好好地與你相偕，並住在內。
求主俯聽我的禱聲🙏
亜孟
多謝主的提醒，我的確掉落了魔鬼的陷阱。請時常令我想起祢，請幫助我懂得合理地使用科技資訊，不要過度花費時間以至遠離天主🙏