The Message
Lesson Eight — The Tongue, Divine Mercy, and the Gift of Time
Nurse Marie spoke about caring for Fr. Mark Garrow, MIC, who died in October 2007. He had a large excision of his tongue and spoke only with great effort and difficulty. This caused her to reflect on her own use of the tongue. She began to ask herself, "Do I use my tongue to praise God?"
Each of us should ask the same questions, for each has, at one time or another, said things we regretted later. Saint Faustina was no different. She wrote, "... I do not trust my tongue which, at such moments, is inclined to talk for itself " (Diary, 92). Thinking about that line made me reflect on situations where, in a fit of anger or frustration, I said things that hurt someone. Later on, after things had cooled down, I would ask myself, "Did you really say that?" So, in some ways, my tongue does have a mind of its own.
I remember reading a book as a child about cowboys out west finding wild mustangs and trying to tame them, and how difficult it was to get these wild horses under control. The tongue is like that for many of us. Saint Faustina knew and wanted her tongue to be used only for God, and wrote, "I want my tongue to praise God without cease. Great faults are committed by the tongue. The soul will not attain sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue" (Diary, 92).
Reflect on those last words: "The soul will not attain sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue."
Here are a few useful reminders:
• Think before you speak.
• Use your tongue to build people up.
• Use our tongue to give honor and glory to God.
• Make a conscious effort today to avoid gossip, slander, and destructive criticism.
• Realize that what you say has great power to affect others. Use that power in a way that would be pleasing to God.
As we try to harness the wild mustang that we call the tongue, we do well to recall the words of St Faustina, who wrote "the soul will not attain great sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue."
A related matter is our use of time. The clock tends to be an overriding taskmaster for so many people. We pack our schedules with meetings, events, gatherings, and activities. Many of us are so busy that we fail to see God's presence in our lives. The faster we live our lives, the less time we have to weigh our thoughts, actions, and words. The conflicts of life take on an added sharpness and produce additional pressure, which, as we have seen, can often lead to hasty and hurtful uses of the tongue.
Just as we need to try to slow down and quiet down, we also do well to be mindful of life's tremendous beauty. Saint Faustina, the first saint of the new millennium, wanted to tell everyone of the mercy of God and continually gave thanks to Him. She understood the beauty of life and saw God's hand in everything. She wrote, "For everything, I give great thanks to God. I have made use of every moment to glorify God" (Diary, 1066).
She realized the fleeting nature of our existence on earth and how we must see God in all things. She wrote, "Oh, how beautiful is the world of the spirit! And so real, that by comparison, the exterior life is just a vain illusion and powerlessness" (Diary, 884).
So, let us take a deep breath, give thanks to God, and make the best of each and every day.
Questions for discussion:
Scripture tells us that the tongue is a small organ that can do great things, but also great harm is we allow it. We must continue to try to harness the great power of the tongue. We must also try to treasure each moment, and realize that each day is a gift from God.
1. Recall an incident where someone hurt you with their words. Examine the process of dealing with that hurt. Did you handle it well?
2. Recall an incident where something you said may have hurt someone else. Did you later regret your words? Did you ask for forgiveness?
3. What message would you like to give to your loved ones, and your family regarding the tongue and making use of time?