Reading and meditation on the Word of God on the 8th Sunday in ordinary time, March 2, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Sirach 27: 4-7; Rs psalm 92: 2-3.13-14.15-16; 1 Korintus 15: 54-58; Lukas 6: 39-45THEGIFT OF SPEAKING Thetheme for our meditation on this 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time is: TheGift of Speaking. The ability to speak is in the essence of God. His act ofcreation is through speaking. Then in communication with humans, God speaks. Inshort, He reveals Himself to humans through His word and in order to be heardand understood, He speaks. Inthe image and likeness of God, we are given the ability to speak. This is oneof the basic gifts that characterizes humans who are in principle differentfrom other living creatures. Humans speak using the language they know and usein their social life. Today'ssacred readings invite us to reflect on our ability to speak as desired by God.God wants us to speak like Him in creating, loving, conveying the truth, andgiving thanks. These are acts of speaking that we can categorize in a peace andcalm atmosphere. Inaddition, our ability to speak in times of crisis, conflict, and illness mustalso be the same as God's. He loves, forgives, heals, and saves. We should practiceforgiveness, admit mistakes, comfort the suffering, invite dialogue, correct properly,provide solutions, and be silent. As we do not speak but express gestures andsymbols, this are also very important. Becauseit is so important for us to speak, namely conveying God's will and commandsboth in times of peace and crisis, we need to pay attention to the parametersconveyed in today's readings. The Book of Sirach reminds us to avoid sin thatcomes out of the mouth when we speak, because it comes directly from the heartand mind. It is better to first confirm the contents of the heart and mindbefore speaking. When that factor is ignored, the result is always bad.Regretting it later will be useless. Ourcommunication with others begins from the heart and mind. Communication is thefruit that reveals who we really are. This is the message of the Gospel of Luketo us, the essence of which is so that we do not become hypocrites: between theheart or mind and words are not in line. What would be dangerous is sweet andattractive talk shown to people around, but within the mind and heart is anger.This will explode in due time. So, the word of God through Saint Paul wants tomake us aware not to be enslaved by this culture of death. We must be steadfastin the work of God to proclaim what is true and good.Let us pray. In thename of the Father... O Lord Jesus, help us to always speak about the joy ofthe Gospel, which is truth and goodness. May we always speak in Your holy name.Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...