Defiled by what comes out of the mouth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer the opportunity to consider how the unkind word which we may speak about another is a serious decision on our part to put some distance in the intimacy we are invited to share with God. The Book of Numbers relates the anger of God over the words spoken against Moses by Aaron and Miriam. God makes it clear that the behaviour against Moses is a case of being in conflict with the role of Moses ordained by the Divine. The consequence of this action, at first, seems over the top and the quick appeal of Moses to God for mercy is the evidence of the trust, compassion and intimacy of the relationship of Moses with God. Commentators suggest that Miriam was healed. The consequence of her action became exile from the group for a period of time. The psalmist proclaims the understanding that we know the sin that is in our lives and we perceive that this is an obstacle to being as intimate with the Divine as God desires for us. Along with the psalmist we implore God to restore our relationship as Miriam was restored to the community. The Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus use of the tradition of the elders around cleaning of hands before eating to focus attention on the words which come out of our mouths as that which has the potential to put separation in the intimacy we live with the Divine. The value of the advice of those who are apparently blind to the important aspects of the relationship with God is questioned.