The Holy Apostle Aquila
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Romans 13:1-10; Matthew 12:30-37
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
The last verses of today’s gospel are frightening: on judgement day, we will give an account of every careless word that ever came out of our mouths. The immediate context of this warning is Jesus’ conflict with the Pharisees – they have misunderstood how Jesus is inaugurating the kingdom of God through his teaching and miracles, and in their words and thoughts of condemnation, they’ve committed blasphemy, confusing the work of God for that of the devil.
Perhaps for us, this willful hostility isn’t particularly relevant – after all, we don’t usually find ourselves accusing others (or being accused) of demon worship or false miracles. But the intensity of the Pharisees should make us consider how often we’ve condemned an idea or person carelessly, or from an over-abundance of zeal, or in an outburst of anger. St. Arsenius, a fourth-century monk who fled the imperial palace for the Egyptian desert, once said: “I have often regretted the words I have spoken, but I have never regretted my silence.” This advice (from someone who lived at a time when Christians frequently had to use strong words against heretics and non-believers) is a good reminder to use care when speaking. Even when we are sure of the truth, we must speak the truth with love; and when we doubt that our words will be received as true, we can remain silent without fear, knowing that Christ, silent before Pilate, went to his cross for the life and salvation of the world.