Genesis 3:9-15 / 2 Cor 4:13 – 5:1 / Mark 3:20-35
One of the means of communication is with words. The primary form of interaction with others is through the spoken word.
Although text messaging is popular, the human social inclination is to meet up and have a face-to-face interaction.
In such interactions, words are spoken to express thoughts and emotions.
Whether it is a casual or formal conversation, there is a need to be aware of what we say.
There is a Chinese saying that we can be reckless with what we eat, but we have to be careful with what we say.
But actually, we also need to be careful with what we eat, so as not to have digestive problems.
So, we have to be careful with what we eat, as well as to be careful with what we say.
But it seems like we are more discerning with what we eat than what we say.
Because there are instances when we are so careless with our words.
There are many reasons why we are careless with our words.
It could be when we are angry and we lose our temper. And when we lose control of our temper, we also lose control of our tongue, and we say mean and hurtful words.
Or, we may want to be sarcastic so as to insult and put down others. We will use words that are sharp and cutting and make others cringe and feel disgusted.
By and large, we become careless with our words when we lose control of ourselves and give in to temptation.
That's when we will say things that are false, or tell lies, or even to the extent of saying things that are outright evil.
In the gospel, Jesus says that all men's sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies. But let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, and he will never have any forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.
Jesus said that because some people were saying that an unclean spirit is in Him.
To say that there is an unclean or evil spirit in a person is a grave and serious matter.
More so when it is not a factual statement, and it is said to criticize a person out of jealousy or to discredit or out of some malicious intent.
We may not say something that grave and serious.
But, we may give in to the temptation of cursing, and say things like “that person can go to hell”.
That is certainly not a casual statement and it implies that a person is evil.
As Christians, such words or phrases cannot come out of our mouths.
Because from what fills our hearts, our mouths will speak.
Let us remember that evil can only multiply when we lose control of ourselves and give in to temptation.
We will speak words of evil and sow words of evil into the hearts of those who hear it.
But when our hearts are filled with the Holy spirit, we will speak what is good and loving, what is right and true.
The Holy Spirit leads us to do the will of God.
To do the will of God is to speak about the will of God.
And the will of God is that we speak words that are gentle and kind and compassionate.
We speak words that encourage, words that affirm, words that heal.
And may the Holy Spirit help us to speak words of Truth and Love.