Prologue in Sermons: January 14

 

Against Idle Talk

January 14

(A Discourse on Sinners Buried in the Church)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians don't restrain their tongues and, without thought or caution, blurt out whatever comes into their heads. When they are told that this is wrong and that they will have to answer to God for their thoughtless words, they pay no attention and reply, "So what if we talk too much? We won't get into trouble for that; for words are like water."

Is that so?

There was a certain nun in the land of Tabennisi, who led an honorable life but often indulged in idle talk and was generally very intemperate with her tongue. When she died, she was buried in the church as a donor. What happened? On the very first night after her burial, the church watchman, by a revelation, it is said, from God, saw the deceased thrown out before the altar, and half of her body appeared to be burning, while the other half remained untouched by the fire. In the morning, the watchman showed everyone in the church the spot where the deceased nun had appeared to him to be burning, and the marble in that spot was scorched. "This," the narrative concludes, "was clearly revealed, that those whose sins are not forgiven will not escape judgment and cannot obtain help from sacred places."

It is clear from this that the dead are condemned in the afterlife for their tongue; and therefore idle talkers should not say that words are water and that nothing will happen to them for idle talk in the future life. No, words are not water, "but the stroke of the tongue crushes bones" (Sirach 28:17). And "many have fallen by the edge of the sword but not so many as have fallen by the tongue" (Sirach 28:18), says Sirach. And because of this, he who thinks that nothing will happen to idle talkers in the future life is mistaken, wrath awaits them. "I say unto you," the Lord teaches, "that every idle word which men shall speak, they shall render account of it on the day of Judgment" (Matt. 12:36). Therefore, refrain, brethren, from idle talk, for, as you see, nothing good comes from it. Instead, let truthfulness, integrity, and sincerity prevail among you, and all of you, having put aside falsehood, speak the truth each to their neighbor. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.