St James in our first reading seems to have a pessimistic view of the human tongue in view of the negativities that come from our mouths as a result of a lack of self-control. This is echoed by our psalm today that speaks of the combination of lying lips and false hearts.

Yet we have to acknowledge that the same tongues are used to bless the Lord and Father while persons who are made in His image seem to sometimes bear the brunt of our tongue-lashing or even gossip. This is a contradiction that we all have to live with, hard as it may be. Nevertheless, we cannot just let things remain as they are - there is a need for us to subdue our tongues lest they continue with their escalating damage.

In contrast, God's word to us is seen in a positive light. In the gospel, God's voice from the cloud calls us to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son. Just as Peter and the others encountered the Lord on the mountain and were in some way strengthened in faith and prepared for their future roles, we need to allow the Word to permeate every part of our lives (tongues included) so that we may truly be the mouthpieces of God.