Speaking the Truth The Lord is preparing us for persecution. In this time of darkness, those who speak the truth will be persecuted and misunderstood. Are we ready? That’s why we have to crucify ourselves, because, as long as we are attached to our reputations, to being affirmed and liked, we are not going to speak the truth; we will not risk being misunderstood and persecuted. Community, Love Crucified. Teaching Manual Love Crucified 2020 (p. 65). Kindle Edition. In this essay, I explore the necessity of speaking the truth with compassion and self-awareness, even in the face of persecution. I have often heard from people, including fellow Christians, that they always tell the truth as they see it. In practicing that point of view, I find that when this is done, it often looks like they have some anger issues that they are trying to get rid of. Furthermore, speaking the truth in anger does no good since it comes from a place of simply judging others who are different, or who are actually entrapped by the same compulsions and sins. There is a saying, “Each saint had a past, and each sinner has a future.” Speaking the truth out of a place of love is not manipulative, nor condescending. If I am not open to the truth that others confront me with, I cannot expect others to listen to me. Anger feeds off fear and lacks trust in God’s saving grace in all lives. We can only truly speak truth if we have the compassion to face our own humanity and our experience of God’s mercy and love for us. We have to be vulnerable to the truth about ourselves, hence the importance of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is essential if we want to make a difference in other people’s lives. Without it, we are simply empty drums. Yes, speaking the truth, even in love, can lead to being hated or feared. To understand that, all we need to do is remember the times when we were confronted with truth and how we responded. Yet in the long run, it is truth that will set us free. We all have a past and future; let us be careful that in speaking truth it is to help others, and not to express our anger or self-righteousness. Jesus always saw the potential in those he called, even if they had many rough edges and even sins. When others feel ‘seen’ when challenged, they are often more open to the truth in what is being presented to them. When we put on the Mind-Of-Christ, we find ourselves moving in the direction of compassion and empathy, since we are no different than others. It is our openness to grace that makes the difference. We cannot read the hearts of others, nor do we know their past or future. It is God who sees all, and because of that, He has infinite patience for all of us. So, we must speak with gentleness, love, and compassion.-Br.MD
Extracted from the above! Thank you, Brother Mark, for sharing these tidbits of wisdom! We can only truly speak truth if we have the compassion to face our own humanity and our experience of God’s mercy and love for us. We have to be vulnerable to the truth about ourselves, hence the importance of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is essential if we want to make a difference in other people’s lives. Without it, we are simply empty drums. Keep my self-appraisals, Lord, honest and true.
Simply beautiful. We cannot see the heart of our neighbour. And likewise cannot see our own heart without grace. When grace is given us the experiance of Gods light the only response is to be prostrate before him. To see the darkness within. The barriers to love. Me myself and I. The secret of self pity,love,pride. Until grace like a storm overwhelms the dam a life time has built. Only then in the midst of wreckage can we realise He who is loved us first. In our sins He loved us and sets us free from bondage. Nothing simply nothing that is I deserves it. It is gift. Our brothers sisters who today walk in darkness need the light. How many live desperate sad lives. Yet the plastic smile indeed often worldly success can’t won’t is unable to give meaning purpose lasting peace. My story not yet told. Journey not yet complete. I am simply overwhelmed by desire for those without light. Be the light. How? Surrender all. Become small in the knowledge I am not. He is. Be ready because God waits then acts.
I find this the hardest part of relationships. It is so easy to see the splinter in another's eye.... Yet, I believe scripture says we are obliged to somehow correct another so they may improve [or be saved]! Indeed, if not we are somewhat complicit in their sin. How many of us have children'living in sin'? Even more subtly, how many of us hve friends or relatives who,say, believe in contraception, or refuse to confess to a 'mere man.' It's too easy to correct others in anger or with self-righteousness, but that achieves nothing! It is like pride - we must believe we have the Truth, yet owe all to God. It's so hard to be humble if we know the truth. Pride is also counter-productive. Somehow we must LOVE others into self-correction. Admitting our own imperfection is a humble approach. Unwavering good example has impact. Prayer is always effective, even if we do not see it. Only God can judge. We must love our neighbour
Cohabitation appears to be the norm these days in secular society but even most Catholics have succumbed to the allure of the world. The loss of the sense of sin in our society is staggering. The majority of people (and even the Pope) do not see cohabitation as a sin. Not even as a venial sin. It seems to me that our world is more pagan than Christian now.
Yes, I look at people in the world, where I live in Australia, and lament how very few give any time to the afterlife - it's all about the trip overseas, the new car and a comfortable retirement. Yes, for man it is how to pay the rent,etc [which is why so many have to cohabitate], but not thoughts of eternity. As I posted elsewhere, I've taken to saying the Conversion Prayer given St Faustina ["Blood and water flowing..... trust in you"] foras many people as possible that I pass while driving and in shopping centre. I'd hope that, when 'The Warning' comes my whole district will receive the grace to convert. God coverted Saul, so I have Faith He can convert my most wayward relatives and community members.
Your district is truly blessed - your prayers will not be in vain. Also invoke & cover your area with the precious blood of Jesus when you pray the sorrowful mysteries. God bless you.
Here are the blunt facts- the reality of Hell. We might be tempted to point a finger at the one who minimizes the danger of deceiving us of Hell's reality. But each of us must speak the truth ourselves!
Yes, I tell people that we are the problem, God only loves. Can't imagine what separation from God is like, yet God weeps, and we can be like ice. Lord give us a human loving heart like yours.
Tonight I was reading about Therese's dark night during the last year of her life and the fear of experiencing virtually no consolation for such a period of time stunned me. However, she continued to write wise and loving words of encouragement to Maurice, a seminarian, with whom she had been given permission to correspond. So the Little Flower in her feelings and heart, knew emptiness, but still chose to love.
