NAZARENE VIRTUES: COMMUNICATION

 

In Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Gaudete et exsultate”, one can find indication on how to communicate: a useful antidote against the hypertrophy of the “ego”, self-centeredness, verbal violence, mockery, not to mention the lack of empathy, or the inability to make self-criticism. Ego centricity, the tendency to show off, to believe in being “the best”, is sometimes a characteristic found in the media world and in the wider galaxy of the web. Also he writes that Christians too can be caught up in networks of verbal violence through the internet and the various forums of digital communication.

The Pope recalls that the saints do not waste energy complaining about the failings of others, they can hold their tongue before the faults of their brothers and sisters and avoid the verbal violence that demeans and mistreats others. Saints hesitate to treat others harshly; they consider others better than themselves. He adds that it is not good when we look down on others like heartless judges, lording it over them and always trying to teach them lessons. That is itself a subtle form of violence.

Communication is supposed to build the human relationships and must spread love and communion among the people. Communication, wherever and however it takes place, has opened up broader horizons for many people. This is a gift of God which involves a great responsibility. He referred to this power of communication as “closeness”. The encounter between communication and mercy will be fruitful to the degree that it generates a closeness with cares, comforts, heals, accompanies, and celebrates. In a broken, fragmented, and polarized world, to communicate with mercy means to help create a healthy, free and fraternal closeness between the children of God and all our Brothers and sisters in the one human family.

Our behavior plays an important role in communication with others. Our relationship depends on how we react and communicate with our fellow brothers and sisters in the community. Being a Brother of the Holy Family, we should take the Holy Family as an example how we should communicate. In Nazareth, they prayed, worked and communicated with each other. By doing so they collaborated to rebuild the communication and communion with God, which was lost.

 “Use communication as an instrument to build the fraternal community, 

a community which rests in God.”