euphemos

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Lectionary 103

We want to be good soil. We want the word of God to produce fruit in us. We don’t want to be hard-hearted, or so anxious about life that we are robbed of that fruit. We want to have understanding eyes, ears and hearts. There is so much to take from today’s readings and liturgy. 

But, today, I want to talk about words.

The word of God is powerful. Christ is the perfect word of God, but all of God’s words are powerful. As we hear from the prophet, the word of God does the will of God.

We are created in the image of God, which means that we are like God in many ways. Our words are also powerful. They are not as powerful as God’s word, but they are powerful. Our words can build up, or they can tear down. Our words can give life, and they can lead to death. I wonder how seriously we take that power.

When I was a very young child, perhaps five or six, I overheard part of a conversation. Someone mentioned they heard me singing enthusiastically at a church camp. They asked if I got my love for singing from my father. Laughing, the response was, oh, no, he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. They were speaking about my father, but I thought they meant me. I did not sing again for years. The words were innocent and playful, and not at all about me, but they changed things for me.

A week ago, I said something thoughtlessly. I didn’t mean much by it, but it sounded bad. It sounded critical of someone, and my careless words bruised a relationship that I value. Thankfully, the other person was willing to forgive me. I thought about myself, and my feelings, when I spoke, and did not think about who might hear what I had to say, or how my words could affect others.

I think that most of us have had experiences like this.

Words have power. They have power to give life, and power to take life. They can strengthen relationships, and wound them.

I want to be a good listener. I want to be good soil. I want to allow the word of God to change my heart.

But I also want to be a careful sower. I sow seeds with my words, my attitudes, and my actions. I want to be careful of the seeds I sow, and where I sow them. I don’t want to just vent to make myself feel better. I want my words to be life-giving, encouraging, and healing.

Our community would be blessed if each of us here today would commit ourselves to being careful sowers of life-giving, encouraging, and healing words.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Lectionary 100

Often, we think that we want to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. We want someone to love us, and someone to love. We desire children and grandchildren. We want a good job. We want to make a difference in the world. We want to avoid hell. We want the pandemic to end. We want people to treat us justly and kindly. We want to be respected and appreciated. We want beef jerky, a cold Shiner, a nice car, and a riding lawn mower. We want all these things for those we love.

But, is that what we want? Is it, really?