The First Friday of Lent

You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Jesus reminds us that verbal attacks can harm people just as much, if not more than physical violence. The sins of the mouth can be even deadlier than those of the body because they can harm a person’s spirit, causing them to sin and harm others. This is why we must guard against feelings of envy and anger and be careful in how we respond to others. We might be tempted to say something hurtful, especially to someone who hurts us, but the only way to break the cycle of suffering is to show restraint and forgive. There are also times when we injure others with our words and actions and in these cases we should seek not only God’s Mercy, but also the forgiveness of those whom we have harmed. No matter what the circumstances, it is invaluable to make a habit of turning to God before we speak and asking Him for the right words. More often than not, this simple act will be enough to keep us from speaking words that will harm another person.

Do we struggle with the sins of the mouth? How can we do a better job of not just holding our tongue, but also using it to build up people rather than tear them down? Do we seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit before we speak to others?

O Lord, forgive our sinful words and help us to only speak holy ones from now on.

Amen.