I want to give a word of caution about reliance on technology and the mentality of control in our contemporary culture. In bioethical reflections, the Pope has warned us about the mentality that promotes “technical efficiency” over trusting in God’s natural order. Pope Francis has also warned us about a “throw away culture” focused on consumerism, which manufactures disposable products, subjugates third world people to the demands of the developed world’s market, and throws away even unborn children. Recently, we have seen the mentality that human innovation through science can completely “control” a pandemic.
We Catholics helped to develop the scientific method at our universities and promote technology—these are given by God. I use technology everyday. People were helped by scientific insights through the pandemic. However, I would warn people in two ways. First, not to trust that technology will always give us food, sufficient material goods, and be reliable. Second, not to trust that human innovation alone can control diseases. In past ages of Faith, the people of God sacrificed the first fruits of their flocks and crops to God and received blessings in abundance. Also, people prayed for the end of pandemics which ended in God’s providence. If the technology were to fail us, electricity were to be interrupted, like they are facing in part of Ukraine now, we can, and should trust in, God’s providence and call out to Him to help us.
It is simple. Always have in your mind and heart the words “Jesus I trust in You.” and live that Faith.