Homily: August 5, 2025, Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Defiles)

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 “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” 

Today, Jesus challenges our common perspective: it is not what we eat that makes us unclean, it is what we speak. Our words reveal what is in our hearts and when we speak unkind words, it shows how ugly and unclean our heart is.

We see a good example of this in the first reading, when Miriam, the sister of Moses, spoke against him in a very unkind and unjust manner. Immediately, God inflicted with leprosy, an external visible sign of her internal spiritual impurity. She was later cast out of the community until she was made clean again.

If God were to also punish us instantly for every careless word we spoke, would any one of us survive?

What is it that comes out of the mouth and defiles?

- Gossip, slander, verbal abuse, insults, sarcasm, complaints, condemnation, lies and so on. 

All these come from polluted hearts and transfer negativity to others. These actions break and destroy relationships. They not only harm others, they also increase the distance between God and us.

Miriam’s sin was especially offensive because she spoke against Moses, whom Scripture describes as: “By far the meekest man on the face of the earth.”

To speak ill of anyone is wrong, more so when it is directed at someone who is innocent, harmless, meek and defenseless.

And that was what happened to Jesus. He was innocent, meek, harmless, and without defense when He was falsely accused, insulted, mocked and harassed. 

Let us reflect: Do my words harm or heal, break or build?

Let us ask the Lord to purify our heart and mind, refine our speech, and to help us speak only what is true, good, and loving.

May the words that come out of our mouths never offend others, and most importantly, may they never offend Jesus.

Amen.


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