Hurt People Hurt People

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment’. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment...” Matthew 5:21-22

In March 2019, President Duterte directed his ire at Senatorial candidate Mar Roxas, pronouncing, “You’re nothing. I can even shoot you for free.” He continued to insult Roxas by saying he had no loyalty and was just good for being a traffic aide. I do not see the former President’s heart, but Jesus Himself says in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the abundance of the heart,  the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.” 

We have to be careful of our words, but even more, we have to watch our heart. We have to fill our heart with gratitude, and look at the good in people, otherwise we will become embittered and hopeless, and the words we speak, will reflect that. What makes a man like the former President, who is so powerful and successful in the eyes of the some, pummel and threaten others?

“Hurt people hurt people and they hurt themselves even more.” I thought this was said by Mother Teresa, but I can’t find the reference, and can’t find the author. If we are hurting, we need healing. We need to be made whole, or we spread the hurt to others. We say things we regret, we can say things we don’t mean, and there’s a snowball effect in our lives and the lives of others we cannot mend easily. It may be painful, but it is best to reveal the wounds, and clean it with  swabs of forgiveness.