“We all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!” (James 3:2-5). 

The tongue has great power to set ablaze. It can enflame either false accusations or truthful encouragement, prideful bombast or humble thanksgiving, bitter hatred or forgiving mercy. Let us consider our speech. Do we use our tongues to build one another up in love, focusing on the gifts and virtues that another possesses, or do we use our tongues to tear one another down, focusing on the weaknesses and vices that our neighbor appears to have? 

Sacred Scripture teaches us that a man who uses his tongue well is like a healthy tree bearing good fruit, but a man who misuses his tongue is like a decayed tree which produces rotten fruit. Let us listen to the Word of God: “The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man’s speech disclose the bent of his mind” (Sirach 27:6). “A good tree does not produce decayed fruit any more than a decayed tree produces good fruit. . . . A good man produces goodness from the good in his heart; an evil man produces evil out of his store of evil. Each man speaks from his heart’s abundance” (Luke 6:43-45).

If we let our speech be molded according to the pattern of Sacred Scripture, then we will not let ourselves become like a withered tree with bad fruit, but rather like a healthy tree bearing good fruit for the upbuilding of the Body of Christ. Let us consider the healthy tree first. Christian speech is characterized by (i) encouragement (ii) respect for the dignity of the person (iii) truth and (iv) the praise of God. As the following Scriptures are presented, let us reflect on how well we are putting them into practice. “Encourage one another while it still today” (Heb. 3:13; cf. Heb 10:25). “Each should please his neighbor so as to do him good by building up his spirit” (Rom. 15:2). “Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them” (Eph. 4:29). “You must esteem the person of every man” (1 Pet. 2:17). “Let everyone speak the truth to his neighbor, for we are members of one body” (Eph. 4:25). “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father” (Eph. 5:18-20). 

Now we turn to reflect upon the withered tree. Anti-Christian speech is characterized by (i) harsh criticism (ii) cursing (iii) lies and (iv) worldly talk. God warns us against such things. “Get rid of all bitterness, . . . anger, [quick temper], harsh words, slander and malice, [insults, gossip and foul language]” (Eph. 4:31). When a man’s speech is not in accord with God’s plan, it is “smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart; his words [are] softer than oil, yet they [are] drawn swords” (Ps. 55:21). Also, St. James warns us against hypocrisy of speech: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9). One who has departed from the ways of God, lies and bears false witness against his neighbor (cf. Ex. 20:16;. Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:25). St. John teaches us to avoid worldly speech: “They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them” (1 John 4:5). 

Let us ask God to bring conversion to our speech! Let us all strive, by God’s grace, to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving toward one another, kindly disposed, and humble. Let us not return evil for evil or insult for insult. We should return a blessing instead. This we have been called to do, that we may receive a blessing for our inheritance. If we want to enter into life and see prosperous days, then we must keep our tongue from evil and our lips from uttering deceit (cf. 1 Pet. 3:8-10). 

For further guidance on how we ought to speak, we turn to the The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2477ff. It says that we become guilty of rash judgment when we, even tacitly, assume as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of our neighbor. We become guilty of detraction when we, without any objectively valid reason, disclose another person’s faults and failings to others who did not know them (cf. Sir. 21:28). Finally, we become guilty of calumny when we make remarks contrary to the truth in such a way that it harms the reputation of others and gives occasions for false judgements concerning them. 

Also, the Catechism, in numbers 2483-2485, clearly states what a lie is, when it is a venial or mortal sin, and identifies it as an abuse of our gift of speech. “To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead into error someone who has the right to know the truth. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venal sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity. By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate truth to others.” 

Finally, we consider the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statment than to condemn it. But if cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved” (Spiritual Exercises, 22) 

“I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Mt. 12:36-37). We entrust the difficult task of speaking the truth in love to our Blessed and Immaculate Mother Mary, whose tongue uttering the following praise of God, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:46).