Dear Friends,
James’ writes in his epistle, “No human being can tame the tongue…with it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.”
James is only stating what has been known since ancient times.

Our readings today are wisdom sayings all related to the speech and the tongue. Our speaking reveals something of the nature of our heart and Jesus tells that “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” be that good or evil.

Gossiping and spreading rumours blights the life of any community and the Church is no different. Social media can makes the damage done to a persons life and reputation worse. Words can encourage, console, and bring life to the hearer or can equally bring down, deflate, discourage and can be deadly.

Jesus points out that a heart full of bitterness, resentment or jealousy is unlikely to produce life giving words and conversation. We are all aware that some spoken words are sugar coated and appear compassionate but all to often end in just thorns and brambles.

We can put on the imperishable, that St Paul speaks about, by the surrendering of our hearts to Jesus through confession and conversion in an act of faith. By doing so we invite the Word, who is life, within us and can in him over come the sting of death.
Blessing Fr Neil