Power of words: Use them well

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Annie Vorhes

"Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you." If you've ever been wounded by unkind words, you may beg to differ.

Think of a time when someone said scathingly, "You just don't get it," or recall the crushing disappointment of hearing, "You're not my best friend anymore."

Well-chosen words can curse, belittle and destroy, but they can also comfort, affirm, and encourage. Remember how it feels to hear the words, "I love you" or "You're doing a great job!" Words have power.

Palm Sunday (April 4, 2004) Lk 19:28-40 Is 50:4-7 Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 Phil 2:6-11 Lk 22:14--23:56 or Lk 23:1-49

Words, written or spoken, are a primary means of communication. We use words to speak to God and God also uses them to speak to us.

We hear God speaking to us in a variety of ways. We hear him in the Scriptures proclaimed in speech and song at Mass. We hear him through the collection of inspired words handed down to us as the Bible.

We hear God speak when we encounter Jesus - he is, after all, the Word of God that took on flesh and lived among us. We hear him speak in the sacraments ("I baptize you." "Receive the Holy Spirit." "This is my Body." "I absolve you from your sins.")

We may hear God "speak" in other ways, too - in the glory of a sunset, the patter of rain, the stillness of snow-filled woods. We hear him speak through the gentle admonishment of a friend or kind words from a stranger.

"I will speak to the weary a word that will rouse them," God says to his people through the words of the prophet Isaiah. God wants to encourage us, but sometimes we may experience his words in ways that are far from comforting.

The Gospel is challenging and often God's words rouse us from our complacency. We are shaken up and deeply troubled.

We are led to ponder again who God is and who we are. We, as followers of Jesus, should not be surprised when we experience persecution - Jesus has told us as much - but we don't always remember that our exultation comes through humility, that the path to glory entails suffering. Sometimes we need to be reminded.

The words of Isaiah also remind us that God uses the people he created to help communicate his message. We may readily admit that God continues to speak through the church and its leaders, but sometimes we forget that God continues to speak through each of us as well.

	Reflection questions • How have you heard God speak? • How do you use the gift of words?

Words are a gift, and we are entrusted with them to use them well. As people of God, we are called to encourage and comfort, to bless and edify, to admonish and teach, and to share with the world the good news we have received.

The Word of God was given freely to the world, but Jesus was often misunderstood, even by those closest to him. We can expect no less. Yet Jesus himself shows us that a word can truly be our salvation in dark times.

Annie Vorhes is the liturgy intern at St. Paul University Catholic Center, Madison.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

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