Jesus said, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out in you." 

The study of a makeup of a villain is a good lesson for people interested in better living. In fantasy movies, it is a source of humor; in real life, it is not so humorous. In fact, the people who are the "bad guys" have usually had things happen to them that have caused the evil way they have chosen. In the fantasy movie "Shrek the Third," the villain is Prince Charming who takes over the kingdom of Far Far Away, and the movie clearly shows why he has become the villain. He is ridiculed and made sport of by the public as he tries to follow his career of acting. As a result, he vows to become "someone," and as he pursues such a goal, he turns to evil to get his way. He went his evil way because of the ridicule. The use of ridicule and sarcasm and words that hurt can cause immense harm, and the person interested in leadership must learn such a lesson. 

The often-called Sermon on the Plain, Luke the evangelist's collection of Jesus' moral directives in chapter six of his Gospel, is not an easy document. People who read it with religious resolve understand that their speech patterns will most probably have to change. When Jesus tells us to stop judging and condemning, and begin forgiving and giving, he is telling us not only how to act, but to change the way we speak to and about others.

We know how words spoken in anger or negative criticism make us feel. In fact, our reaction upon hearing them is often one of "striking back," giving the person who gave the criticism "a little of their own medicine," and telling them what we think of them at that moment. Often we carry grudges; we continue speaking ill of people who have hurt us or our families. We sometimes set up a pattern of "evil speech" in our lives, in which we ridicule others, and make them the butt of our sarcasm and humor.

When such a fact is presented in a fantasy movie that is created by talented animators and artists, it may give us enjoyment, but when it happens in real life, it is often tragic. Words spoken in an evil way can cause immeasurable harm. They can never be "taken back" or "un-said." They continue to fester like an open wound that never heals and constantly causes pain. Jesus tells us to watch what we say; what happens in our world bears witness to the wisdom of his directive.   

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, you have given us the gift of communication with others by our speech. Thank you for this marvelous gift, but help us remember your Son's direction about using our speech well. Be with us, we pray. 

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America