The world today is continuing its advancement regarding media communications. I cannot count with my fingers anymore the rapid development that the media communications are confronting with the past decades of its existence in the world. Because of the blossoming advancement of technology in the world, the manifestations of the rapid expansion of media communications have been so widely felt by every race and nation. In homes, schools, offices, churches and other institutions, media communications share a significant role for accessible communication which conveys new innovations for manifesting and enhancing the value of communication in different institutions and sectors of the society. The world has reached the path of becoming a ‘cradle for the rapid development of media communications. The changes in communication are apparent in every circumstance of man’s life. However, the Church is still challenges each one of us on how far rapid development of media communications have realized the Church’s ultimate concern (i.e. to evangelize her flock using media communications) which must also be the ultimate concern of every media industry that employs the rapid development of media communication in the world.
When I start to read and reflect on the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II entitled The Rapid Development, I realized that the Church is continuing her fight on promulgating evangelization towards her flock in using the means of media communications provided by the media industries in the world. The Church considers media communications as instruments for fulfilling her ultimate concern in every person of the world, i.e. to evangelize them through the word of God by using the means of media communications. The Church recognizes that media communications really help the human person to be connected with other persons and to be in touch with the world. However, the Church is advocating that media communications must lead the person to be in touch with God, to be participative with prayers and liturgical ceremonies and to be inspired by the word of God. This entails a great help for the Church if media industries realize the advocacy of the Church on the use of media communication. Life would be meaningful if the person knows to connect and be in touch with his/her life with God who is the source of his existence, as he/she also connects and is in touch with the other persons and the world. This would mean for the Church evangelization; allowing the person to be connected and in touch with God with the use of media communication which its fundamental concern is to evangelize the people.
I learned so many things in reading and reflecting the Apostolic Exhortation. I cannot deny the fact that the world is facing a rapid development on the usage of media communications. Well, I affirm that it helps the person to discover new things in his/her life, but sometimes it could be a source of his/her downfall once if it is not being used for good terms. I agree with what the Church is advocating regarding on the use of media communications. For me, this would really mean a great help for the Church to propagate her concern for the people, i.e. to evangelize them, to guide them in their spiritual journey and to lead them on the right path of their lives.
