Are You an Influencer?

I recently gave a homily about a term which is relatively new to me.  That term is “Influencer.” Apparently it is one of the terms with which persons familiar with social media are conversant.  It does just what it says it does, it influences you to one point of view or another. I think we used to call that peer-pressure for the younger generations and advertising for the rest of us.  Someone or something is always influencing us one way of the other.

At the end of that Mass one of our parishioners approached me and handed me a pen.  On the pen was inscribed: Pray, Post, Repeat – Catholicinfluencers.com.

I don’t think that this was a coincidence, I do think that it is God’s Grace at work in our midst.  We are all called to be influencer in our world.  By the things that we say, by the choices that we make, by the example that we give, by how we live out our call to be a Christian is how each of us becomes an influencer.

One of the Catholic influences that I use is a site called Aleteia.  Recently they posted an article on Blessed Carlo Acutis within which they referred to him as an influencer.  Here are six of the takeaways that might help you to be the influencer that God has called you to be:

• Be Authentic, Not a Photocopy
• Use Your Platform For Good
• Balance The Online and The Offline
• Simplicity is Powerful
• Kindness Over Fame
• Leave a Lasting Legacy

The young Carlo Acutis may not have had millions of followers or a global platform in his lifetime, but his influence continues to grow years after his death. This is because he left behind something meaningful. He lived with intention, purpose and a clear sense of values. He didn’t chase fame.  Instead he chased a life of meaning, and that’s what makes his story so compelling today. Blessed Carlo and other influencers can help us to use our talents and passions to uplift others, make a positive impact, and live authentically.

Have a great week and God Bless you,
Father Kennedy