3.  The challenge not to say words that destroy.  There is a joke that there are two things that make Filipinos happy --  free meal and talking about other people’s lives. When we start talking about other peoples’ lives, the next thing you know, there’s gossip and eventually character assassination, then slander.  When we have said these words, there is no other way you can take them back anymore.

Even Jesus was not spared from this.  He healed many people, He performed miracles, yet His enemies say that He gets his power from Beelzebul. What the mouth speaks is what the heart is full of.  If we have anger, resentment, bitterness in our hearts, we think low of ourselves. Likewise, we see other people low as well.

The challenge is to forgive.  We may have all the right to get angry, but when we forgive, the very first person that is healed is our very own selves.  Otherwise, our relationship with other people would be affected.  And who wants to go out with a negative person?  If a person can destroy another person in front of you, you likewise can become a victim.

4.  To speak like Jesus, we should avoid words of deception.  Words can be deceiving.  If you will notice in TV shampoo commercials, all models have very long hair.  The very reason that you have a long hair, the more shampoos you will use.  Milk advertisement encourages people to drink milk two times a day.  The more you drink milk the more revenues.  There are experts and researchers of these products who know the weaknesses, fears, worries and anxieties of the people they will target.

Jesus also encountered deception.  In Mt. 22: 15-22, He was asked by the Pharisees if it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar with the end in view of trapping Him.  Jesus, knowing their intention, answered fully well when He said to give to what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.  As Christians and Catholics, It is a challenge to everyone of us to always be on the side of truth.

5.  To be like Jesus, we should know what to speak and not to speak.  Guard our tongue.  Prov. 21:23 – “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, keeps himself from troubles.”  Incidentally,  people have different personalities, character  and experiences in life. Sometimes even in texting, the interpretation is different with the person we send the message to.  How many instances has trouble been created between you and other people because your well-meaning message was misinterpreted?

There’s a story I cannot forget during a death of a family member. Words of comfort were said. (But there are situations that there is no need to say anything; just holding the hand of a family member is enough.)  There was this remark, “Siya pa naman yung pinakamabait (he's the most kind and he's to die).”

The book of Ecclesiastes says, “There’s a time for everything.  A time to speak, and a time to keep quiet.”  It is challenge for us, to discern, when to speak and not to speak.

6.  To speak like Jesus, we should be trustworthy.  Prov. 11:13 says, “A news monger reveals  secret;  but a trustworthy man keeps  a confidence.”  Have you ever been betrayed? Or, have you ever betrayed other people?  A person comes to you telling you a secret;  the next thing he knows, everybody in the office knows about it.

As a priest, this is what I noticed, we have our own burdens we carry that we need also to share. That’s why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is very important because people need to unload their burdens.

Are there people we could trust? Can we also be trusted?  As Christians, we should be trustworthy.

7.  To speak like Jesus, we should be prayerful.  We priests say this in our morning prayer: “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”  When Jesus was asked by His disciples, “Lord Jesus  teach us how to pray,” He said, “This is how you should pray, ‘Our father who art in heaven...'”  It was new to the Jews to call God, Abba,  because for them, God is an angry God that needs to be presented with so many peace offerings.  Prayer, whether in mind or lips, is the fundamental habit of a Christian.

8.  To speak like Jesus, we should be truthful.  Ps. 15:1-3 – “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart.”  Sometimes, some of us Christians do not speak the truth anymore.

Is there a lie we have uttered in life that up to now we regret to have said?  The truth is, it will always come out.  When we speak the truth, there is peace.  The most important and basic is  for us to always speak the truth. When you state a lie, you will never be at peace.  As St. Paul said,” the truth will set you free.”  Why live a life of lie, putting on masks to be accepted by everybody?   People should love you for what is good in you and what is not good in you.

Jn. 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus lived a life of truth, His actions, His words, His whole life.  Again, something very important to ask ourselves, “Is there any lie in our life that we continue to live out?”

9.  Do not waste words.  Most of us have the tendency  to talk, talk, talk.   We forget that words, our speech is a gift from God.   Mt. 12:36-37 says, "I tell you,on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

God would want an accounting of what He has given us - time, talent and treasure.   Our speech will probably fall under talent.  What have you done with all the blessings that God has given you?  Were you a blessing to others?

In the scenario at the end of our life,  the Lord will separate the lambs and the sheep.  “You who were blessed, when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink.”  And they said, “When did we feed you? When did we give you drink?”  The Lord said, “Whatever you did to the least of your brethren, you did it unto me.”

10. The Lord hears our word.  It’s about prayer.   There’s a story about a couple - the husband is an atheist who does not believe in God, the mother is a believing Christian. Their only daughter passed away at a very young age.  Both of them were devastated.  At the end of the funeral, the husband told his wife, “Now I know why it is important to have God in our life.  Here I am, I cried out in anguish but I don’t have someone to cry out to.”  It is very important to have God to whom you can bring your anguish.  God is just a prayer away.


Again, the challenge is, in our speech, when we talk to people around us, let us always remember that our relationship with God is also fully stated.  As much as possible, we want to talk every day and send text messages to people we are close to every day.   We need to continuously communicate.  

Again, it is important to ask ourselves, “Is prayer an obligation?  Or is it a relation?”