Speaking Out

We remember the beheading of St. John the Baptist today; his voice crying in the desert earned the ire of King Herod and his "wife" and eventually cost him his head.  John spoke directly and fearlessly of the evil he saw in the Palace and serves as a model for us, especially now when "things are so bad", not only in palaces, but in the market places as well.  In his exhortation,  The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis advises us to "Go Forth! Proclaim!  The joy of the Gospel is something to be known and lived only through giving it away, through giving ourselves away."  He tells us to embrace those who have lost the joy of living, to show mercy to those whose lives feel empty, distraught and upset by what's going on in the world,  He urges us to confront error, deceitful illusions and falsehood as well as to soothe wounds and heal hearts."  It's as much by actions as by words... perhaps more so.
Sometimes just allowing people to talk and vent brings about more healing than advice or sharing experiences.  At any rate, may we not hold back, even at the prospect of losing our heads!
Bro. Rene