Exercising Christian hope in challenging times

Q : Archbishop J, why a fast from negativity?

This Lent, I am offering you an option to the traditional abstinence from food and other things. I am calling for a verbal fast – a fast from negativity.

Let us use the power of words to speak positive things into the lives of those around us, and into our national community.

Certainly, there are many things happening around us that challenge our faith and hope. We live in an environment where our people are bearing genuine hardship and unjust social and economic inequities. As Church, we see and journey with all who live on the margins of society.

In the true ‘Trini’ way, we often seek to correct these societal imbalances and find repose and solace from the hard realities of our life with humour. Hence, the virility of the hashtag #trinidadisnotarealplace which, seemingly, aimed to lessen the very real personal and collective disappointments of our daily experience. Words are important. Some ideas can undermine us in ways we cannot imagine. Hypercriticism is an internal poison, which damages the heart and erodes the soul.

Change the narrative

Yes, we must continue to speak truth to power. This is a democratic right, and a means of driving change but, as believers, we must also put prayer to work by taking action.

As Christians, we understand that our words have power (Mk 11:23)—power to build us up and the power to tear us down. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These three working together is medicine for our soul.

I am asking that we consider fasting from negativity. If we add this to good works and prayer, we will see much happen in our lives, families, and the nation.

Pay attention to the way we speak to children. Notice the name calling and the exaggeration of faults and foibles, with mothers telling their children they are no good, fathers telling their sons they don’t have time for them, the bullying in schools, the name calling in the legislative halls, ethnic wars, and global protests.

These are all echoes of the negative narrative that we have been force-fed for so long; the reason we too easily turn on each other. But, in the end, as Ukraine and Russia will one day realise, we are all one people in search of peaceful co-existence. We must learn to transcend what seeks to divide us and focus on what unites us and the God who created us all.

Our negativity is a spiritual problem. It is the symptom of so much hurt and trauma in our history and our soul. A soul moving to redemptive experiences, contrition, gratitude, and compassion. Negativity is in the opposite direction. It ends in ingratitude which the old people say is worse than witchcraft.

Criticism

It seems to me there is a preoccupation with criticising our homeland. We somehow believe if we point out the faults of others in minute detail, the person will then become a better person, or the society will magically become a better one.

When we are unduly critical of a child, spouse, or community, the individual’s self-confidence and identity is undermined, which only serves to make things worse – not better. There is healthy criticism, which could lead to growth. And there is negative criticism which is destructive.

Bloom’s taxonomy that speaks of the hierarchy of intelligences lists six levels: remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating. Unconstructive criticism didn’t quite make the list but, analysing and evaluating did.

These require objective understanding of the issues involved and deep thought about the intricacies of the idea from different perspectives (analysing) and having some objective standard against which the idea could be explored (evaluating). These can then guide action and generate positive change.

What we need in this great land that is our home is true dialogue. This requires that we begin with an acknowledgment that the other person deserves respect and dignity; that we understand that even if we disagree with another person, we should still respect them and their right to their own opinion.

This is a fundamental principle of Catholic Social Justice. Each person deserves to be treated with respect. The Golden Rule says: “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.”

When we propagate messages that are negative or hypercritical, whether verbally, written or online, we are participating in destructive behaviour. When we encourage and foster such messages, we are participating in tearing down people and our nation.

The Church teaches us that calumny and detraction are sins. Does this mean that we do not analyse and evaluate the situation? Of course not. We must call out wrongdoings, just as we support positive change.

We must continue to analyse and evaluate key areas of life, family, and the wider community and, in this way, work at creating a better way forward – a better T&T for all.

Key Message:

A fast from negativity is vital for our soul. It invites us to respect the dignity of each person and to enter true dialogue and transformation.

Action Step:

If you are in a conversation that is negative or not constructive, exit the conversation. If you are listening or viewing media that focuses on the negative and is not shedding light on the way forward, turn it off. If you receive social media that is aimed at destroying a person or people, delete it. Don’t forward it. Importantly, if you hear or sense you are being negative, take a holy moment. Pause and find the positive.

Scripture Reading:

Mark 11:23, Philippians 4:8, Titus 3:10