MEDITATION TIPS (#267) — 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,
August 31, 2025

“The mind of the wise reflects on proverbs, and the ear of the discerning listens eagerly to them.” (Sirach 3:29)

　We live amidst a flood of words in what is called the information society. Yet most of the words we hear pass from one ear to the other and are quickly forgotten. However, many have experienced how a single word encountered in the midst of a major event can shake the heart and change the course of life. Words spoken in moments of extremity or deep commitment strike the hearts of all who hear them. This is because, whatever their form, they contain truth without falsehood.

　Throughout history, short proverbs and sayings refined by the wisdom of many people have a way of catching our attention. Such words encapsulate the speaker’s entire personality and life. At the same time, the fact that these proverbs and sayings continue to resonate with people over centuries reveals a deeper truth: “Human beings, in every age, struggle with the same things.”

　Even when encountering the same words, the way they are received varies depending on the listener’s circumstances. Regardless of the original intent of the speaker, the hearer or reader interprets the words through the lens of their own heart, breaking them down, digesting them, and assigning personal meaning. And that is perfectly fine.

　The driving force of life is hope, and words are what sustain that hope. Today, many suffer from emotional and psychological distress. The cause is not merely stress, but the fragility of the spiritual foundation, coupled with the mind being forced to bear excessive burdens. The framework of the mind is built upon the spirit, and the spirit is expressed through words.

　In the past, Japanese education tended to undervalue rote memorization. Yet in earlier times, when the recitation of texts like the Analects of Confucius was widespread, the minds of the Japanese people were more stable. This was because the Analects helped shape and support the Japanese spirit. For example, Yoshida Shōin and Natsume Sōseki engraved words into their very being by reciting the Analects from childhood. The words they accumulated in this way eventually became their own sayings, forming the framework of their minds, guiding their actions, and supporting their lives. This can also be understood by looking at the spiritual strength of Catholic believers in Nagasaki who, as children, were made to memorize catechisms and prayer books.

　There are countless proverbs, sayings, and aphorisms around the world. All of them speak of life, offering insights to those striving to live, and they remain fresh and moving in every age. In an era overwhelmed by information and threatened by fake news, one way to discern what is true is to adopt the perspective that “what is valuable lasts.” Proverbs, sayings, and aphorisms that have supported the human spirit throughout history possess inherent worth and deserve to be revisited.

　For us, the quintessential example of “what has value lasts” is the Bible. “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that all life-giving proverbs and sayings are words that come from the mouth of God.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Yutaka Akabae)