Sir.
27:4-7; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; Lk. 6:39-45
"A man working in the produce department was asked by a lady if she
could buy half a head of lettuce. He replied, "Half a head? Are you
serious? God grows these in whole heads and that's how we sell them!"
"You mean," she persisted, "after all
the years I've shopped here, you won't sell me half-ahead of lettuce?"
"Look," he said, "If you like I'll
ask the manager." She said that would be good, so the young man marched to
the front of the store. "You won't believe this, but there's a
lame-braided idiot of a lady back there who wants to know if she can buy
half-a-head of lettuce." He noticed the manager gesturing, and turned
around to see the lady standing behind him, not realizing she'd followed
him. Without missing a beat he continued, "And this nice lady was
wondering if she could buy the other half."
Our words have the power to reveal us, and change the world. If our
words flow from the depth of our heart it will have the power to heal, console
and transform.
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against the injustices being
fought against during the Civil Rights movement. King's voice reverberated
throughout the nation as he stood and said, "With this faith we will be
able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony
of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray
together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom
together, knowing that we will be free one day."
Another example is the writing of Ann Frank.
In her poignant first-hand telling of the horrors
of World War II, Anne Frank masterfully immortalizes the heart-wrenching
personal account of herself, a 13 year old girl, clinging to whatever innocence
she could. In one of many powerful statements found in her diary, she says
"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still
remains." Anne Frank was a beautiful soul that persevered in the face of
the worst of human hatred and injustice right up until the end.
God has given us the ability
to communicate information directly from our heart and mind. And our words
reveal what we are. Today's first reading puts in clearly with two
examples taken from the experience of common man.
"When a sieve is shaken, the rubbish appears; so do a person's
faults when one speaks. The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a
person is in conversation.
Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so a person's speech
discloses the cultivation of the mind. Do not praise people before they speak,
for this is the way people are tested." [Sir. 27:4- 7]
Jesus too emphasizes the
importance of using good language in our conversations with others with a
similar example taken from the daily experience of common man.
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good
fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from
thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
Out of the good treasure of the heart, the good person produces good,
and out of evil treasure, the evil person produces evil; for it is out of the
abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks." [Lk. 6:39-45]
Dear brothers and sisters we can speak only what we think. If we think
of charity our words will echo it. If we think of love for fellow beings our
words will reflect it. If we think of forgiveness our words will reveal it. If
we think of supporting the poor our words will replicate it.
We will be transformed if we begin to think positively and
only of good things. When we think of good things our minds will get filled
with good things and good things will flow out through our words. Criticism
will be replaced with words of understanding. Hatred will be wiped out
with words of love. Violence will be overtaken by words of tolerance. Negative thoughts
will be engulfed with words positive energy. And then whoever comes in contact
with us will love our presence. They will like to listen to us.
Let us pray that Jesus will grant us grace to use the great gift of
speech to glorify him and bring consolation and joy to all.
Satish