By Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

“At the site of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned...” Today's Gospel challenges us to see the world through the eyes of Jesus Christ, not prevailing media.

Beware of perspectives coming from “left” and “right”, “red” and “blue”, narrated among podcasters, influencers, and social media postings. These perspectives critically adjudicate “the other side,” analyzing “their” ills. Solutions are scarce.

Catholicism has a solution. It comes from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whom we honor in June. Looking over the crowds, Jesus did not analyze or dissect their absurdities – like podcasters and news outlets. Christ looked upon them with mercy, with his empathetic Heart.

Podcasters and news outlets thrive on outrage and conspiracy theories, magnifying extreme things their opponents say and do. In effect, they exploit the void of dignity that drives their opponents, without acknowledging that they themselves suffer the same plight.

Healing the world is not about morbidly exposing its darkness. Rather, the wound to be healed is the feeling, “I don’t count.” Incrimination is not the answer. Creating a sense of belonging is.

A favorite short story of mine, by Flannery O'Connor, is “The River.” It’s about a young boy, Harry Ashfield, who is neglected by his affluent, partying parents in a southern town. A babysitter took little Harry to a healing service by a river. The preacher said he will “count” after he’s baptized. The boy was dunked by the preacher in the muddy river. When Harry emerged from the water, the Reverend said, “You count now. You didn’t count before.” O’Connor wrote, “The boy was too shocked to cry.” Harry wanted to relive the experience of “you count”. So, he returned to the river the next day to dunk himself. He drowned.

The tale is classic Southern Gothic literature. Flannery O’Connor, the ever faithful and masterful Catholic, captures our deep and intuitive need for dignity and identity – “I count” – that every person will seek to fulfill, even to death.

Catholics must be on the forefront of this message: Everyone “counts.” Otherwise, people will hungrily assert their need for worth and identity, even to their own destruction and everyone else’s. Jesus says, “Go to the lost sheep…”. This is our mission.