Love and Empathy ~Sunday Wisdom

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”. Psalm 95:8. This line teaches us to allow our hearts to be more open and responsive to whatever the Lord has to tell us and the world. It is a call to love one another.

It is an opportunity to allow our heart to be grateful for whatever the Lord brings to us because the truth of the matter is that He knows what is best for us, even if it seems difficult, even if we don’t understand.

Today’s readings are hard. They reminds us that we should owe nothing to anyone, but to love as God has called us to do. In every circumstance we are called to holy boldness so we can speak the truth and correct things that are disordered. This can be extremely difficult, especially in today’s feel good culture where tolerance and empathy seems to have trumped truth.

The gospel readings call us to a love beyond the ordinary way of being empathetic and speak the truth when necessary. And let’s face it sometimes the truth hurts. But if we truly love someone then we want what is best for them and sometimes that means wounding their pride.

Of course we should always approach others with compassion and understanding seeking the good for one another, but that does not mean compromising our core values.

It is extremely difficult to correct others who have lost their way, but the Lord is encouraging us to be more concerned with speaking the truth and loving them than hurting their feelings. Too often we allow empathy gets in the way of truth and end up standings back and saying nothing.

As a parent I can say it is never easy to discipline a child and yet it is precisely a parent’s unconditional love that brings about correction.

Tolerance is important for sure, but also lovingly correcting a wrong is equally important. True love is willing the good of another person, not walking around trying to avoid hurting someone’s feeling.

Let us always strive to speak the truth and love one another so deeply that we find the holy boldness in brotherly correction. Do not be afraid, for real love always flows when we listen for the voice of God and respond with compassion.