Responsibility for What We Say

Greetings,

In the past we talked with some young people about the unkind, or nasty, or mean things we sometimes say to and/or about other people.  Yesterday there was a similar conversation about the problems of the unkind, nasty and mean things being said everyday in our political and social discourse.  It reminded me of this passage by Fénelon from Letters and Reflections.

[Francois de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon (1651-1715), was a French ecclesiastic whose career fluctuated wildly from being tutor to Louis XIV’s grandson, to disgrace, to being archbishop of Cambrai, to banishment and back again.  He displayed an at times baffling mixture of ecclesiastical authoritarianism (defending the infallibility of the church and supporting the bull Unigenitus) and broad humanitarian ideals (an optimism, belief in progress which made him a forerunner of the Enlightenment, and ideas of God which lead directly to the Deism of the 1700's.]

“Charity [love] does not demand of us that we should not see the faults of others; we must in that case shut our eyes.  But it commands us to avoid attending unnecessarily to them, and that we be not blind to the good, while we are so clear-sighted to the evil that exists.  We must remember too God’s continual kindness to the most worthless creature, and think how many causes we have to think ill of ourselves; and finally we must consider that charity embraces the very lowest human being.  It acknowledges that in the sight of God the contempt that we indulge for others has in its very nature a harshness and arrogance opposed to the spirit of Jesus Christ.  The true Christian is not insensible to what is contemptible; but he bears with it.

“Because others are weak, should we be less careful to give them their due?  You who complain so much of that others make you suffer, do you think that you cause others no pain?  You who are so annoyed at your neighbor’s defects, are you perfect?

“How astonished you would be if those whom you cavil at should make all the comments that they might upon you.  But even if the whole world were to bear testimony in your favour, God, who knows all, who has seen all your faults, could confound you with a word; and does it never come into your mind to fear lest He should demand of you why you had not exercised towards your brother a little of that mercy which He, who is your Master, so abundantly bestows on you?”

Mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness, understanding, and above, below, and surrounding all, love.  That which we have so freely received, we are responsible for sharing with everyone, even those with whom we disagree.

Yours & His,

DED