SPEAKING TRUTH IN LOVE
When I am tired and have not prioritized self-care, my communication is very direct. I speak my mind with more fervor and my words can cut like a knife. My parents would say it's actually more harsh and mean, which is not very like me. It’s not like the well-rested me filled with self-love that I believe is me all the time. Yet, my ego reacts saying, “Well, it's the truth.”
The truth, what an interesting concept. Too often I believed that as a Christian, I had no right to be angry or to speak truth. As I grew into myself and into my career, I am learning that our prophetic call as baptized persons, and as persons committed to a faith that does justice, includes speaking the truth. Often, it means speaking the truth publicly and unapologetically in favor of those on the margins and those we call the poor. The truth sets us free, as the scriptures say, but more importantly, it sheds light to what is hurting and who needs healing. For me, it has become easier to point out the hurst outside of me - the structural injustices, the hate crimes increasing, the public scandals of the Church - than the hurst I have caused, whether I intended or not.
In the scriptures for today, we see God speaking truth to the Israelites for not being faithful to the Covenant. From a distance God appears as a coldhearted, cruel dictator, or maybe a tired professional who is hurting and is speaking too directly. Yet, if we remember, as Jesus does in the Gospel, the Covenant is about mutual relationship more than blind obedience to rules. God is in an authentic relationship with the Israelites and is speaking the truth because God cares. God loves that much. God makes Godself vulnerable.
It’s the truth, and it sounds harsh. Because we know that God is a God of unconditional love, sending down His only son to redeem the world, we can trust that speaking the truth is for our own benefit; it is motivated by love so that we can continue in right relationship with God. I ponder on this today because it gives me pause to examine myself - to look inward to how I am hurting and how I have hurt others. God is so good to me even when I am a jerky jerk. It gives me pause to think about the next time I am called prophetically to speak truth to power, to continue to do so publicly and courageously with my actions and words, but to place love at the center. Speaking truth is mutually beneficial when it draws us closer to love, closer to God.
I pray I may have the courage to tend to myself so I can speak more kindly to those around me. I think to myself, would God want this person to know this? How would God tell them? I pray that each of our Lenten journeys continue to shape our collective call to build a more just world.
What personal wounds do you need to tend to lovingly? Whom in our local community is hurting? How is Jesus calling me to speak truth in love? If you are moved, pray with this song as you waste time with Jesus today.
Ana López