Often there can be a disconnect in our lives between the way we approach God and the way we approach other people.
This can especially be the case with social media, as we can hide behind a screen and say whatever we want to say without any consequences.
What we need to remember is that every word we use in conversations, whether they are offline or online, reflect in some way the state of our soul.
Power of words
St. Francis de Sales explains this spiritual reality in his Introduction to the Devout Life by using an analogy:
Physicians judge to a great extent as to the health or disease of a man by the state of his tongue, and our words are a true test of the state of our soul. “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned,” the Savior says. We are apt to apply the hand quickly to the place where we feel pain, and so too the tongue is quick to point out what we love.
He then continues with his reflection, pointing out that our words reflect those things that we care about in this life:
If you love God heartily, my child, you will often speak of Him among your relations, household and familiar friends, and that because “the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.” Even as the bee touches nought save honey with his tongue, so should your lips be ever sweetened with your God, knowing nothing more pleasant than to praise and bless His Holy Name.
The age of the internet has made this a difficult task, as we are often enraged by the next social media post that pops up in our feed.
Our reaction is often to respond immediately with a snarky comment or to share it with others, telling the world how awful someone else is.
Various forms of entertainment can be equally damaging, encouraging us to use vulgar language in our everyday conversations.
Despite our foul language, both online and offline, we can think that we are still being a good Christian, because we aren't physically hurting anyone.
Yet words are powerful and can tear people down more than any stick or stone could do.
If we are struggling with our words, we will need to look at our heart, seeing how we can let God enter in and transform it.
