"By examing the tongue of the patient, the physicians find out the diseases of the body, and philosophers the diseases of the mind." St. Justin, martyr

 More important are the diseases of the tongue that affect our relationship with God. What are some of these diseases? There is falsehood and lies, slander amd calamny that are part of gossip, words of anger and unkindness, curses and swearings, using the name of God, sexual inuendos, words of unforgiveness and revenge, words that divide. Jesus, the Divine Physician, has come to remove these spiritual diseases. He prescibes words of truth, love, justice and unity. We are called because of our baptism to turn away from destructive words to life-giving ones, so that our speech becomes pleasing to God.