SPEECH AND REVISIONISM - C: 8th Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: Ecc/Sir 27:5-8 (27 February 2022)

“The test of a person is in his conversation ... so a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of his mind” (Sir 27:5-6).

Ben Sira in our first reading today teaches the value of speaking rightly in the pursuit of justice (v. 8). The sage spoke this way after indicating that there are many who “have committed sin for gain, and those who seek to get rich will avert their eyes” (v. 1). The context of his message concerns some opportunists who would enrich themselves via cheating and deceiving would-be victims. Accordingly, the sage warns everyone against buying or believing immediately an opportunist’s cunning antics (v. 2), lest “his house will be quickly overthrown” (v. 3).

To counter this modus, Ben Sira recommends the need to analyze first a seller’s speech since “the test of the person is in his conversation” (v. 6). Interestingly, the Greek word used for conversation in the book of Ben Sira is “dialogismos,” which can mean a thought, opinion, or discussion. In contemporary times, we use the cognate dialogue to signify a peaceful and friendly conversations between equals to arrive at a decision that will be for the common welfare of all. By analogy, a deceiver can be described as someone who avoids heart-to-heart conversations, shun criticisms, eschew confrontations, and hide the intent of his/her actions.

In contrast, the sage demands that everyone must be “steadfast in the fear of the Lord” (v. 3) and be truthful in words and actions since “honesty comes home to those who practice it” (v. 9).

This past week (February 22 to 25) marks the 36th anniversary of the Philippine Church’s witnessing to the truth by being critical of the administration of an opportunist and deceiving dictator of 21 years. In 1986, after a rigged snap election that proclaimed then incumbent dictator Ferdinand Marcos to continue his reign as the president of the Philippines, a national unrest transpired as seen in large-scale public protests coupled by a coordinated mass civil disobedience. Then Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, condemned the results of the fraudulent elections as well as the Marcos regime. When the Defense Secretary with some military leaders turned against Mr. Marcos, then Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Archdiocese of Manila called all Catholic faithful over national radio to go out boldly to the streets to protect the militia who revolted against the administration. In so short a time, the crowd swelled in the streets, including hundreds of priests, seminarians, and religious sisters who prayed the rosary, gave food to protesters, and even offered flowers to pro-government troops. After three days, Marcos was forced to step down, marking the success of the so-called People Power Revolution, dubbed by observers as the first unbloody national revolution in the world. This event later inspired many small countries in the USSR to liberate themselves and even the Germans to demolish the Berlin Wall. People Power is a testament to an empowered faithful, but which came about only after being strengthened by a caring Church that spoke the truth and fought for justice in our land.

Recently, the CBCP issued a strong message against historical revisionism that downplays the EDSA Revolution and denies the abuse of power that it stood against. The bishops enjoin communities to collectively pray and discern to know the truth and to stand for it especially in the light of the upcoming elections, lest we resuscitate the same evil government of the past. May the words of the Sage then sink deep in each of us as we select the next leaders of our country:

“In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with our own words he will trip you up” (v. 23).

- Rex Fortes, CM