Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Eight Sunday of the Year C – March 3, 2019.

Reading: Sir. 27:4-7; Responsorial Psalm 92:1-2.12-13.14-15(R.1a);

 1 Cor. 15:54-58 & Gospel Luke 6:39-45.

Theme: Guarding the Tongue!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, our liturgy today cautions us about the wrong use of the tongue. The scripture says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth flows” (Cf.  Matthew 12:34; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 10:11; Psalm 14:1). That is to say, the tongue does not act on its own. It is propelled by something from the inside. Indeed, it is from the inner recesses of the heart that the mouth flows. This is why the bible says, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10).

Today’s reflection titled, “Guarding the Tongue” shall consider the summary of the readings and the biblical examples of those whose speech caused their destruction. It shall also raise questions about contemporary implications of foul speech which would lead to the pastoral lessons. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

The Wisdom Book of Ecclesiasticus where we took our first reading (Sir. 27:4-7) relates that “a man’s words betray what he feels.” Ben Sirach empathically states that “the defects of a man appear in his speech.” He also warns against praising people before they speak since speech is the test of a man’s character and integrity.

In the second reading (1 Cor. 15:54-58), St. Paul argues that Death is swallowed up in victory because a time would come when perishability would put on imperishability and mortality, immortality. He maintains that we should thank God for the victory through Jesus Christ. He urges that the faithful should go on working for the Lord and never give up stressing that their labour shall never be in vain. 

The gospel (Luke 6:39-45) recounts Jesus’ teaching about the close relationship between the heart and the mouth. In his catechesis, Jesus insists that the mouth merely says what is stored in the heart. He compares the scenario with a tree noting that a rotten tree cannot produce good fruits; likewise, a good tree cannot produce bad fruits which indicate that a good person is known through his or her speech.

He also cautioned against hypocrisy stressing that a blind man cannot lead another blind man. By implication, he was challenging his audience to individually ensure that they seek personal purity from the inside before they can engage in reforming others through their speech and action.    

Biblical Examples of Those Whose Speech Put them in Trouble

1. Ananias and Sapphira: A classical example of those whose speech caused their destruction are Ananias and Sapphira who decided to lie. They decided to hoard some parts of the money that accrued from the sale of their land and declared a little before the apostles. The long and short of the story is that they were struck dead (Cf. Acts 5:1-11). 

2. Apostle Peter: When Jesus told his disciples about his impending death, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said: “This shall never happen to you!” (Cf. Matt 16:22). Jesus had to rebuke him for such hate-speech because he was thinking in the flesh. He was a stumbling block to Jesus’ going into Jerusalem to face his passion.                  

Contemporary Implications of Foul Speech

1. Have you ever considered how many people have lost their lives because of gossip?

2. Do you realize that some people have lost their jobs because of backbiting and gossip?

3. Has it occurred to you that some people are at the highest echelon of power today because they blackmailed others?

4. Do you know many married people today are divorced because of lies and wrong advice?

5. How about family feuds which has decimated clans and villages because of the foul speech of few people?

6. How about those who engage in false media-propaganda to smear others, promote hate-speech and “fill the airwaves with immoral language”?

Pastoral Lessons

1. Since the first reading states that “a man’s words betray what he feels” Christians ought to guard their utterances and assess them based on biblical principles.

2.  Ben Sirach’s message that “the defects of a man appear in his speech” challenges religious, traditional and political leaders to avoid unguarded speeches which are capable of further dividing people based on religious, ethnic and political fault lines.

3. In a society where praise-singing and flattery of eloquent leaders is the in-thing, members of the laity are urged to be cautious about praising people before they speak because speech is the test of a person’s character and integrity.

4. St. Paul’s thesis that perishability would put on imperishability and mortality, immortality reminds us that no matter how we bamboozle people with sugarcoated speeches for selfish reasons, some day, we would give an account of our lives before the creator.

5. His call that the faithful should go on working for the Lord and never give up because our labour shall never be in vain includes connecting our head and heart into verbal praise of the Lord. 

6. Jesus’ teaching about the close relationship between the heart and the mouth reminds us about the saying: “Do not put your mouth into motion before your brain into gear.”   

7. Just as a good tree cannot produce bad fruits, a good person is known from his or her speech.

8. We are challenged to ensure personal purity from the inside before we can engage in reforming others through our speeches and actions.

9. Above all, we are charged to allow the Holy Spirit to help us control over our tongue, if we want to be true children of our father in heaven.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. The tongue does not act on its own; it is propelled by something from the inside;

2. A man’s words betray what he feels;

3. A time would come when perishability would put on imperishability and mortality, immortality;

4. Jesus insists that the mouth merely says what is stored in the heart;

5. He also cautioned against hypocrisy stressing that a blind man cannot lead another blind man.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jesus calls us to avoid being hypocritical. Rather, he challenges us to seek inner renewal which would make our speech pure. In that way, we would be able to walk the talk. More than ever, the scripture urges us to embrace the Holy Spirit which has the power to control our thoughts, speeches and actions.

There is no time in the political history of Nigeria that we need to avoid hate-speech than now – Christians are the ones who need to lead the way. Have a fruitful week!

NB: As we start Lent on March 6, 2019 being Ash Wednesday, I urge you to kindly pray for our country Nigeria that God may lead her in the path of peace, prosperity and progress.