THE WORD
FIRST READING Dt 4: 1–2.6–8
Now therefore, Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,b which I am commanding you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people.” For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
SECOND READING Jas 1: 17–18.21–22.27
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law* of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue* but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
SECOND READING Mk 7: 1–8.14–15.21–23
Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.
IN OTHER WORDS
You think that I don’t even mean/ A single word I say/ It’s only words and words are all I have/To take your heart away.
Even if one means them or not, spoken words are always potent. They can break one’s heart or mend it or win it over.
Philosophers are always fascinated with spoken words. The intelligible sounds uttered by a human mouth are invisible, immaterial, and mysterious. You cannot see them coming; you cannot touch and feel them, or taste them, or smell them.
You can only hear them.
Spoken words are intangible yet real, familiar yet strange. When released by a spiteful mouth, words are like invisible poisoned arrows that sting and injure a soul.
But when uttered by a kind mouth, words are like a beautiful melody winging in the air to touch and lift one’s heart.
The materialists—i.e., those who believe that the ultimate reality is matter— will be hard-pressed if they are asked whether spoken words exist or not, or whether they are real or unreal. For spoken sounds are not material stuff. Yet, they move you, touch you, hurt you, excite you, console you, disappoint you, strengthen you, etc.
And once expressed, words are irretrievable.
What is most intriguing about spoken words is that they only mean something when uttered by humans. If a parrot asks me, “Have you eaten?”, the sounds do not bear weight and significance. But if asked by my mother, they are intelligible and merit response.
But why? Do the words uttered by a parrot travel in time unaccompanied by thoughts, while human words carry meanings?
But what are thoughts and meanings but intangibles?
Actually, words are thoughts and thoughts are words, and they are one and the same. They convey the essence of one’s personhood and character.
And it is in this context that we can perhaps understand what Jesus said in the Gospel: “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within (words) are what defile.” From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts (words), unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils (words) come from within and they defile.”
It is a great deal better to hold one’s tongue than to utter unkindly words about others. Remember General Ulysses Grant? He was said to be able to keep his mouth shut in seven languages! What a feat!
And don’t forget the old adage: “Even a fool is counted wise when he holdeth his peace.”
- Raymun J. Festin, SVD (CKMS, QC)
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience. The Word in other words 2015
