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SATURDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME FEBRUARY 19, 2022

Olivia M. Bannan


A Reading from the Letter of Saint James Jas 3:1-10


Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this need not be so.


REFLECTION

" no man can tame the tongue".


The tongue helps one to taste, chew, swallow and speak. It is made up of many muscles. Abnormalities of the body can first show up with abnormalities of the tongue. The tongue never tires both in eating and speaking. It can do so much--it is supple. It can bend, twist, suck, cup and whistle.


It can do good but also allows a great deal of bad to happen. When it works with the brain and the heart and its emotions, it can be a horrible thing to have. St James says it can be used for malice, defilement and is untamable. Gossiping, backbiting, cursing, yelling find their way after using the same tongue for angelic praising and worshipping. It is the sin that is so quick to see and hear.


In the Transfiguration God shows us what He can do for us when He is allowed to draw us closer to His Divinity. He can tame our tongues.


God can recreate. He can train our tongues and change our thoughts. When criticism and bitterness are starting to well up, stop, and ask God for help.


Reading the Bible, studying His Word, daily Mass, daily Communion, daily Adoration hour can help tame thoughts and turn them into words of praise, love, patience and kindness.


Thought for the Day

Asking God for the graces needed to have beautiful thoughts and speech is a daily petition.

God will protect me if I ask.


God Bless You


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