Readings:
Isaiah 50: 4-9a;
Psalm 116: 1-8;
James 3: 1-12;
Mark 8: 27-end

Collect:
Lord God,
defend your Church from all false teaching
and give to your people knowledge of your truth
that we may enjoy eternal life
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflection

As I sit in front of the computer with the curser blinking on a blank page, waiting expectantly for my fingers to do their work and the words to magically appear, my mind is blank.  The fingers are poised but the words don’t seem to be there.  The time is ticking away and still the curser blinks, the fingers wait, and the words don’t come.  There are just no words.

On hearing the news of Leo’s tragic death, the desire to try and find the right words of comfort and support for Sharon, Richard, and the family is great, but nothing seems to be enough.  No words seem to be able to express exactly how we feel or the love and care that we have for all concerned.  And yet, somehow, with God’s grace, we find some words.  They may not be profound, but they are from the heart.  They are delivered and received with love.

Finding the right words when we respond to a tragedy is really difficult, and there are times when just being with someone and allowing the silence to speak is enough.  When the time comes to speak, you will know what to say. But in the moment, the silence is enough.  Those who are grieving know you are there and that you care.

Silence is great when you can be with someone but there are times when words are essential, like when writing a reflection for the WVW.  Words can and do bring comfort and hope.  Words can and do bring joy and laughter.  Words can inspire people to great things, but words can also be the most dangerous weapon that we have.  They can bring hurt and pain, they can inspire hatred and can lead to wars.  Just look at the abuse some of the England players suffered after the Euro finals.  

When we were kids, I remember being told the rhyme ‘Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’  I guess it was a way of trying to comfort those who were being bullied but how wrong it is!  Cuts and bruises will heal with time, but we will take some words with us to the grave.  We may never be able to forget words spoken with spite and even those spoken in jest.  So, when we use words, either written or spoken, we need to be careful.  

Today’s readings pick up the destructive as well as the constructive nature of words.  In James’ letter he opens a tirade against the tongue and warding of the danger of words.  He paints a picture for us of a huge forest set ablaze by a tiny spark, comparing this to the damage that can be done by the tongue.

Isaiah, on the other hand, praises God that he has been given the tongue of a teacher so that he may know how to sustain the weary with a word.  In the Gospel, Jesus isn’t directly talking about the tongue he is keen to know the words that people are using to describe who he is.  Throughout the Gospel Jesus uses words to encourage and to challenge people.  His words and his actions always matching up, always proclaiming the unconditional love of God.

Somehow, as we journey through life we will need to find words to comfort those who are bereaved.  Words to lift up the broken-hearted.  Words to empower the downtrodden.  Words to challenge the powerful.  Words of love to defeat those who breed hate.  We may not always be confident in the words that we speak or write but I know that if we trust in God then God will use the words that we utter to make a difference in the world.  

So let us be courageous with the words we use and may all our words be delivered with love. 

Mike Morris