28 March

Dear friends,

I’m currently reading the dystopian novel Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. It depicts a near future in which the far-right National Alliance Party seizes control of the Republic of Ireland, implementing emergency powers that suspend the Irish constitution. This gives the Garda Síochána extensive authority and establishes a new secret police force, the Garda National Services Bureau (GNSB).

The novel follows Eilish Stack, who becomes aware of her husband’s vaguely anticipated but unimaginable arrest without charge after a trade union protest. When she first receives the news of his arrest and disappearance, she fears what she might have to tell her children, who are expectantly awaiting their father’s return. A poignant moment in the story illustrates her turmoil: 

“She keys the ignition, afraid now for what lies must follow, the lies growing further out her mouth. She sees how a single lie told to a child is an outrage; there can be no untelling it. Once the lie is known, it will remain outgrown from the mouth like some dead-tonguing poisonous flower.”

Isn’t that a vivid image? The words we speak, the lies we tell, and the hurt we cause can grow from our mouths like poisonous weeds, difficult to uproot once established. Eilish finds herself ensnared in a web of lies, not due to any fault of her own, but the potential for this web to take root in her soul and spread further is concerning. It’s a forest of poisonous flowers.

James reminds us that no one can tame the tongue; it is like a small spark setting ablaze a great fire. The tongue can be restless, evil, and full of deadly poison. With this tongue, he says, “we bless the Lord and Father, and with it, we curse people made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse.”

I admire Eilish’s courage in refusing to let this poisonous flower take root in her soul and grow from her mouth. Perhaps, now more than ever, we should be gardeners carefully pruning the garden of our hearts and actively rooting out any poison that threatens to manifest in our words.

In a beautiful prayer, Pope Francis emphasizes this message about Lent:  

Do you want to fast this Lent?  

Fast from hurting words and say kind words.  

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.  

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.  

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.  

Fast from worries and have trust in God.  

Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.  

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.  

Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.  

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.  

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.  

Fast from words; be silent and listen.  

Marius Louw