Matthew 5:1-12
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
I use the phrase, “speaking the truth in love”, frequently – probably much more often than is actually necessary… The other day, a friend asked me what that phrase means. It has always seemed so completely self-explanatory to me that the question surprised me. That is, until I tried to answer her question.
What does it mean to speak the truth in love, and how is that different from just telling the truth?
I think that a good place to start would be the Beatitudes. Jesus proclaims those who are frequently minimized by the world as blessed. When our words and actions do no harm, even to these little ones, we are speaking and acting in love.
Speaking the truth is different from telling the truth. Telling the truth means that we do our best to be honest and factual. Speaking the truth is proclamation. Speaking God’s Truth to power is a sacred trust, between ourselves and God as well as between ourselves and the one(s) to whom we’re speaking. Those who speak God’s Truth refuse to be intimidated, or to capitulate under pressure. They make a clear case for God’s justice and mercy in all situations.
Speaking the truth in love is incredibly difficult. It requires prayerful grounding in God’s Word and the support of caring community. It’s easy to shout at each other, demonizing each other, and pointing out all the ways the other is wrong. That sort of truth-telling usually ends poorly. In order to speak the truth to someone in love, we must first see that person as a beloved child of God, just like us. It’s not enough to just point out faults and scream for change. Those who speak the truth in love remain firm and clear in their demands without allowing themselves to hate. Instead, they entrust their sister or brother to God, leaving room for reconciliation where possible.
Prayers: Lord Jesus: You spoke some serious Truth that was often difficult to hear, but you never stopped loving all of us. Make us instruments of your peace. AMEN