The word of the day is “tongue.”  In our reading of James 3:1-10, we hear about the peril of an uncontrolled tongue.  But how do we tame it?  James doubts we can.  He writes, “for every kind of beast and bird… has been tamed by mankind, but no man can tame the tongue” (vs. 7).  The apostle’s words are a warning to us.  Yet we find in the verses that follow today’s reading and in other wisdom literature some wise advice about getting control of our tongue. Indeed, the unrestrained tongue is more hazardous than a raging forest fire (vs. 5-6) or a torrential flood.  We cannot contain what is said once it spews out its folly, profanity, or rancor. …