Numbers 12:1-13 / Matthew 15:1-2, 12-14 (Year A)
Envy and jealousy are what we feel in our hearts whenever we feel inferior to another person.
As it is, envy and jealousy already contorts and distorts our actions and behaviour.
In the spoken form, it comes out as criticism and moral judgement.
In the 1st reading, we heard how Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses in connection to his marriage with a Cushite woman.
There was really nothing wrong with that, but the real reason was that they were envious and jealous of Moses and they used a trivial matter to express it.
So what they said merely expressed the envy and jealousy that were biting away in their hearts.
As what Jesus said in the gospel, what goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean.
Rather it is what comes out of the mouth that really shows the state of the heart.
Hence, in our examination of conscience, it is necessary to recollect and reflect on the words that have come out of our mouths.
By our own words, we will know what is in our hearts.
May we offer our hearts to the Lord to be cleansed and healed so that our hearts will be where the Lord makes His home and that we will speak only words of love.