I want to share a deeply overwhelming experience with you. I found myself caught in a verbal confrontation with someone I didn’t even know, and I allowed their remarks—clearly voiced from their own perspective—to disrupt my inner peace. The “conversation” reached a point where I chose silence to avoid prolonging a cyclical argument and to stop the discomfort from escalating.
After replaying this uncomfortable moment several times in my mind, I recognize that I let myself be overwhelmed by the wave of emotions that the other person projected onto me—emotions I interpreted as a questioning of my own actions. Not only that, but a deep sense of verbal powerlessness made me reflect on how I might respond better in case this same situation were to happen again.
I’m almost certain that, as you read this account, you’ve also felt that sense of unease, when emotions cloud everything and words get stuck in your throat, lacking any clear way to come out. Ultimately, the message I wish to share from this reflection is about the powerful impact social relationships have on us—whether they are functional or, as in this case, not.
I want to take advantage of this Lenten season to explore this reflection on human relationships, emotionality, and communication through the lens of “Love, Sacrifice, and Redemption.” The Passion of Christ speaks directly to our daily lives. From the perspective of Marie Eugenie of Jesus, we can allow ourselves to be accompanied in this process of inner reflection and personal growth—recognizing emotional and physical components, approaching them with reason, and above all, letting them be transformed by the breath of the Spirit.
Over forty years ago, Robert Plutchik stated that to talk about “emotion” is to talk about our response to any given situation—one that manifests naturally through physical and psychological signs. Every emotion carries an intensity. Once the emotion and its intensity are identified, it becomes essential to name it. Naming what we feel and think brings mental clarity and enables us to express our needs. In doing so, we initiate communication and, hopefully, reach a balance between both parties. At its core, sharing what we think, feel, and need is about forming a relationship: a bond built through shared experiences.
Dr. Marian Rojas Estapé reminds us that we must understand in order to comprehend. Realizing that we are emotional beings with thinking minds helps us act consciously. We are constantly experiencing emotions; let us allow ourselves to feel, as a guide to our actions. That’s why, for me, it was crucial to revisit the scene multiple times, aiming to equip myself with better tools, while asking whether I wanted to “prove I was right” or “avoid further harm to the interaction.” It's wise to know which battles are worth fighting, and to accept the consequences with maturity.
Once the heart and mind are revealed, it’s worth building a bridge to the Spirit and letting the Word reshape our vision. Through his self-giving and service, Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. Throughout his mission, He remains faithful to the message of forgiveness and insists that our actions be grounded in love. Allowing the Spirit to breathe into us means letting the Word give new meaning to our perspective—for our relationship with God inevitably leads us to relationships with others. Let us change our vision so we may transform our reality.
As Christians, we know our talents are meant to serve the building of the Kingdom. Let us recall the words of MME: “There is always something positive in others. Let us believe in it, seek it—and if we cannot find it, it may be because of the idealized image we have of ourselves…” (Advice on Education, 1984). Therefore, in addition to believing in and seeking out the talents of others, we must also believe in and discover our own—for the construction of the Kingdom in today’s global world.
In His mercy, God invites us to carry our cross by recognizing and embracing emotional intensity. He guides us along the Calvary of human relationship-building, urging us to communicate with maturity. He calls us to transform adversity through forgiveness and love—with the trust that we can fall and rise again. As Mother Marie Eugenie so beautifully said: “My gaze is fixed on Jesus Christ and the extension of His Kingdom.”
Marlé Uribe
Psychoeducator – Instituto Asunción Querétaro
* Photo 1: Hands intertwined in the mission God entrusted to me—to be a better person who thinks, feels, and communicates.
** Photo 2: The Cross. Love, sacrifice, and redemption.