It is a nice feeling to hear someone say something good and positive.
Even if that person saying it is an ordinary person without much or any credentials.
But when it is a person of a high status or high standing, the good things that he says are often well received and even applauded.
In the gospel, Jesus went to the synagogue in His hometown in Nazareth.
Then He stood up to read a passage from the prophet Isaiah.
And He won the approval of all as they were astonished by the gracious words that came from His lips.
But we know what came next. When His hometown people realized that Jesus was the son of a carpenter, they began to put Him down and scorned Him.
His gracious words don’t mean much to them because of His lowly status, even though Jesus told them that the prophecy is being fulfilled.
The 1st reading tells us that anyone who says “I love God” but hates his brother is a liar.
Let us remember that what we say should also express who we are.
We need to be sincere and honest in what we say.
We may not always have to say nice things, but let us also not say what is hurtful or what is false.
When we say that we love God, then may what we say be words of love to others.