Nm 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35 The LORD said to Moses “Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am GIVING the children of Israel... After reconnoitering the land for forty days they returned,... They told Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us. It DOES indeed FLOW WITH MILK AND HONEY, and here is its fruit. HOWEVER, the people who are living in the land are fierce, and the towns are fortified and very strong... So they SPREAD discouraging reports among the children of Israel... At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries,
It only takes a voice, or a few, to gossip. One lie, when shared, SPREADS. We MUST guard our tongues, to not gossip. We MUST ALSO guard our ears, to not fall victim to the lies. This ONE lie SPREAD and the Israelite people fell victim for 40 YEARS. So, how do we guard our tongue and our ears- PRAYER and ADORATION. When we turn ourselves over to GOD, we receive GRACES, BOUNDLESS GRACES, to control our tongue. When we cultivate a RELATIONSHIP with GOD, our ear will be tuned to HIS TRUTH. At first it takes FAITH. It takes COURAGE. And it takes PERSEVERANCE. After a while, a well trained tongue will NOT gossip, and a well tuned ear will distinguish The Truth.
Looking to humans, we will fall victims as the people of Israel- wandering. Looking to GOD, we will be protected and guided to Heaven- which is FAR GREATER than the land FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY.
St. Sixtus II and Companions, pray for us.
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