WEEKEND DIGEST FOR SATURDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 19TH FEBRUARY 2022 (James 3;1-10; Mark 9:2-13).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning and Happy Weekend my dear Friends in Christ.
How are you today?
I wish you a fruitful and more relaxed weekend.
Brethren, I want us to dwell on two major questions from St. James this morning that have multiple questions.
QUESTION 1: ARE YOU A TEACHER?
In othe words, are you a Parent or Parents? Then, you are Teachers.
Are you a Classroom Instructor? Then, you are a Teacher.
Are you a Catechism or Marriage Instructor? Then, you are a Teacher.
Are you a Priest or Religious who who direct people on the path to Heaven? Then, you are a Teacher.
Are you a Medical practitioner who instruct people on how to take care of their health? Then, you are a Teacher.
St. James therefore CHALLENGES You and I today saying: TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH MORE IS EXPECTED. This is because, AS TEACHERS, we are expected to know and practice what we teach. Hence, THOSE OF US WHO TEACH CAN EXPECT A STRICTER JUDGEMENT FROM GOD.
Dearest People of God, QUESTION 2: DO YOU CONTROL YOUR TONGUE OR YOUR TONGUE CONTROLS YOU?
Let us ponder on these:
1. Do you know that the TONGUE has no bones, but is strong enough to brake a heart? So, be careful with your words.
2. Do you know that the TONGUE is the only TOOL that gets sharper with use?
3. Do you know that you shouldn’t mix bad words with your bad mood? You will have many opportunities to change a mood, but you will never get the opportunity to replace the words you spoke.
4. Do you know that the Wise Person has long ears and a SHORT TONGUE?
5. Do you know that a TIGER’S TONGUE is so strong that it can remove paint from wall and help to remove skin from flesh of its prey?
Do you also know that the Tiger’s tongue has been classified as the “second most dangerous tongue ” after the tongue of a woman?
6. Do you know that with a slip of foot, you may recover, but with a slip of tongue, you may never get over?
7. Do you know that the TONGUE is like a sharp knife that kills without drawing blood?
8. Do you know that the TONGUE pierces deeper than the SPEAR?
9. Do you know that there is nothing that deserves to be imprisoned more than the TONGUE?
10. Do you know that the power of LIFE and DEATH is in the TONGUE? A long TONGUE shortens life.
My Dear Friends, with all these been said, St. James warns us to be mindful of that TINY part of our body (tongue) but very POWERFUL because it can BUILD and DESTROY; it can BLESS and CURSE at the same time.
Remember, watch who you trust. Even your teeth bite your tongue every now and then.
The tongue that comes to speak bad of others to you; will also speak your bad to others.
PEACE BE WITH YOU!
Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha
(Fada Kosi Much)
