“Only words spoken with love… can touch our sinful hearts”

Relationships have been damaged, feelings were hurt, friendships have been broken, people were confused. Whether in personal encounters, comments in the virtual world or in the mass media, all of these we have witnessed in the past elections.

Now that the official and final counting of ballots all over the country is almost done, what are the lessons we need to learn? Can we just allow those divisive experiences make us remain distant from and antagonistic to one another?

In his message during the 50th World Communications Sunday (WCS), May 8, Pope Francis reminds us: “Only words spoken with love and accompanied by meekness and mercy can touch our sinful hearts. Harsh and moralistic words and actions risk further alienating those whom we wish to lead to conversion and freedom, reinforcing their sense of rejection and defensiveness.”

Whether spoken or written, personally done or through the use of media, we need to guard our thoughts that we may choose the right words in conveying our message. The content of our message and the way we transmit it must bring about communion rather than division.

Pope Francis observes: “This is possible both in the material world and the digital world. Our words and actions should be such as to help us all escape the vicious circles of condemnation and vengeance which continue to ensnare individuals and nations, encouraging expressions of hatred.”

Great responsibility is expected on all believers in using our FBs, twitters, instagrams and the like. Our faith as Christians needs to be manifested in our daily conversations and encounters with one another, in work or at home, in our private and public lives.

“The words of Christians ought to be a constant encouragement to communion and, even in those cases where they must firmly condemn evil, they should never try to rupture relationships and communication,” Pope Francis emphasizes.

In celebrating the Year of Mercy Pope Francis chose the theme of this year’s WCS as Communication and Mercy: A Fruitful Encounter. Strongly calling for pastors to lead the faithful by example, Pope Francis quips: “How I wish that our own way of communicating, as well as our service as pastors of the Church, may never suggest a prideful and triumphant superiority over an enemy, or demean those whom the world considers lost and easily discarded.”

Whatever political party or individual candidate we have preferred, we must live and show mercy. Labeling ourselves as righteous and those who are not one with us as unrighteous does not help. Our preferences should not make us myopic in working for and communicating with the civic world for the common good but must enable us to help mitigate troubles brought about by intrigues and personal attacks.

Pope Francis further says: “Mercy can help mitigate life’s troubles and offer warmth to those who have known only the coldness of judgment. May our way of communicating help to overcome the mindset that neatly separates sinners from the righteous.”

However, this should not stop us from becoming prophets. We need not be afraid to fight against evil. “We can and we must judge situations of sin –- such as violence, corruption and exploitation -– but we may not judge individuals, since only God can see into the depths of their hearts”, the Pope continues. “It is our task to admonish those who err and to denounce the evil and injustice of certain ways of acting, for the sake of setting victims free and raising up those who have fallen.”

Instead of being judgmental, we need to be gentle as doves and cautious as snakes. The more carelessly vocal we are in criticizing those whom we deem unworthy to lead us, the more we make ourselves distant from each other. But the more we strive to be humble and unpretending in understanding the uniqueness of others, the more we make our roads meet.

As Pope Francis declares: “How beautiful it is when people select their words and actions with care, in the effort to avoid misunderstandings, to heal wounded memories and to build peace and harmony. Words can build bridges between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples.”

Waiting for the newly elected officials to make their oath, as one Filipino nation, we continue to hope and pray before the Lord to heal our land. Can we start it individually never to rupture relationships?