The Scripture Readings this week are:
- Psalm 24
- Mark 6:14-29
The Sermon title is Speak Carefully!
Early Thoughts: What we say can get is in trouble. What we say can set us free. What we say has the potential to make a big difference in how we live our lives. So we should probably be pretty careful about what we say.
Herod speaks rashly and gets himself into a situation that his pride will not let him out of. And so his dinner party takes a grotesque turn. Having John killed probably did not, in the big picture, bother Herod overly much. It may not have been top of mind but still...challenge the king and you place your life in jeopardy. But the text does say that Herod was distressed at the gift he has just promised to give. His promise leads to this. If he had chosen his words more carefully what might (or might not) have happened?
In the Psalm we have a description of who gets to ascend the holy mountain, the hill of the Lord. [Side note: I am sure that when I was in Junior Choir many years ago we sang a song based on this Psalm] And the answer is? "Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully." There is a lot to reflect on in that verse. There is a lot that can lead to feelings of "I am not worthy, I am inadequate". In fact 15 years ago I wrote a reflection for a book of devotion focused in that very verse and talked about guilt and shame. But this year that last phrase jumped out at me: "and do not swear deceitfully". What we say, how we say it, is a part of how we act in accordance with The Way. Because language matters, speech matters.
In the Epistle of James there is a discussion that some translations give the heading Taming the Tongue. In those verses the writer names that the tongue is a double-edged sword (though they seem to be pretty sure it is more of a source of trouble than of blessing). The writer points out the damage that the tongue, that is to say speech, can do.
It can be argued that words are our greatest tool. Words can lift us to great things. Think of the great speeches and sermons of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Or the speeches of Barack Obama. Or John Kennedy. Or many other great orators throughout history. Using words they helped us see new possibilities. Using words they got people excited for what was possible.
It can be argued words are our greatest weapon. Words used skillfully can lead to great evil. Hitler was a charismatic speaker and orator. The Rwandan genocide was sparked by fiery speeches. Many anti-Jewish riots in the Middle Ages were sparked by passionate sermons (particularly around Good Friday). Or in the smaller scale, remember the old lie "sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me"? Does anybody truly believe that adage speaks truth? Many a schoolyard or community park, or household have seen souls and hearts and spirits shattered by the power of a few well-chosen words.
Words matter. What we say matters. They can get us in trouble. They can lead us into a new world. So we certainly need to speak very very carefully.
--Gord
