Effective communication leads to understanding between people

Fr Luke Gregory ofm

Custody of the Holy Land

Communication is the building block of dialogue and mutual understanding. All living things communicate. When correctly understood it is the most important tool for enhancing the value and make-up of our lives. It forms the infrastructure of all our relationships. Science and technology have developed and changed our ways of communication immeasurably. To this end, one might opine that spirituality has everything to do with communication because it is our common ground. Communication is a physical but also a spiritual action which increases our levels of perception, honesty, and well-being.

Christian spirituality of communication is a means that especially addresses the communicative and interpersonal dynamics in the digital and viral culture of today and strives to elevate these toward a disposition of authentic relationality. It offers theological characteristics which are fundamental for an apostolic rooted in synodality to interact with our digital and viral culture of today, including Revelation, Incarnation, Communion, Truth in context, and announcing above all: hope, particularly poignant in this Jubilee year wherein Pope Francis has asked us to walk as “Pilgrims of hope”.

Communication is not just the words that we say, rather the way we tell them that dictates whether our communication is effective. The art of communication is very powerful and subtle. Pope Francis tells us: “Listening with the ear of the heart.” He reminds us that true listening, the very essence of communication, is a foundation of genuine human relationships and is tantamount in our relationship with God as well as all human beings.” Paraphrasing the Holy Father: hope is not just a future dream but a reality that we must live and share now in the present.

Effective communication enables us to exchange realities with each other. This leads to an expanded and enhanced reality, one that has grown from the interchange of the two. It provides a common ground for all age groups, races, and religions. It can build friendships, increase agreement, express culture and further our understanding of our spiritual nature.

An analysis of communication requires us to develop an increased awareness of personal energy, emotions, thoughts, and spiritual awareness. Recognizing these aspects, we become more subtle and effective in our communication. Effective communication leads to increased understanding between people. This expansion of understanding decreases conflict and enables people to better work together to achieve goals, above all to build bridges of hope in a troubled world. The relationships we have are a direct response to the communication we have given or withheld, received, or resisted. There is no skill more important than communication. The development of this skill is an ongoing and a lifelong journey.

As “Pilgrims of Hope” walking together along life’s journey, sons and daughters of synodality, Pope Francis offers us some sound advice when communicating our faith with others: “We are called to carry out God’s work in God’s way: in closeness, by cleaving unto Him, in communion with one another, alongside our brothers and sisters, closeness: that is the secret to communicating the heart of the faith!”.