Be Kind to One Another

No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Ephesians 4:29-32

Reflection:

It's hard not to walk down a street without hearing a profanity. But unfortunately we hear it come from the television constantly. This media has shown us everything that we are to guard against. We get anything from swears to skimpy outfits. Then to see an act between a man and a woman, that should be a reverent moment between the two, shown for all to see. What will be next?

Today's reading from the Liturgy of Hours gives us what to watch out for. What we hear from others often affects us just as much as if we were to say it ourselves. You hang around someone who swears on a daily basis and you might find yourself picking up the habit too. This is what we are to guard ourselves against. Just like we are to remove all that causes us to hurt ourselves or another. After all Jesus died forgiving us. Yet we have hardened ourselves so much that we are angry, bitter and malicious toward one another and not at all forgiving.

Should anyone say something to us that we end up giving them a cold shoulder, or the silent treatment, then we are not very forgiving or have love in our hearts for our neighbors. Do we even learn when we go through trials that point out our flaws, and do we take the steps to correct them. Remember on the cross the one who forgave those who put him there, shouldn't we be able to do this while we are walking on this earth.