Rev. Molly F. James, PhD
DFMS Noonday Prayer
February 9, 2022
1 Kings 10:1-10; Psalm 37:1-7, 32-33, 41-42; Mark 7:14-23
May God's word be spoken, May God's Word be heard, and May that point us to the living Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’*
And just in case we are not clear on that, Jesus goes on to offer a list: “For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.”
Rather than focusing on the letter of laws about what someone could and could not eat, Jesus wants his followers to think about the bigger picture – to think about the message that is behind these laws. To think about what it is that brings pain and defilement into our lives. He turns the question of what one should eat on its head by focusing not on what goes into our mouths but on what comes out.
There is a little rhyming saying I learned as a child, that I am sure many of you did as well. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That may sound like a harmless saying when we are little, and even in preschool, we likely already knew that it is not at all accurate. Words can hurt. Words can do a great deal of damage. This is what Jesus is getting at in today's Gospel. Being his follower is not only about what we do, about how we behave, about how we live our lives. It is also very much about what we say. What comes out of our mouths has the power to build up and the power to destroy.
Words are essential to our Anglican identity. We are people of the “books” – the Bible and the Prayer Book. Think of the familiar words of favorite Bible passages, psalms and prayers. The comfort and solace they can provide. And the ways in which our faith is built up and stretched by a newly discovered passage or prayer. Words play a very important role in our faith life.
Words are also a part of our identity as beings created in the image of God. Think about the opening chapter of Genesis. Creation happens through speaking. “And God said, 'Let there be light . . .” “And God said . . .” Creation happens because of what God says. Or think of the opening of the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the WORD . . .” Words are foundational to our identity as God's children. They have tremendous creative power. We know this first hand. Think of the ways that stories you hear and ideas others shared, have opened new realities in your life. A new business, a new relationship, a new project – they all begin with a conversation. Great achievements owe their existence to conversations, to idea sharing, to encouraging words.
They need not be long, eloquent addresses. Simple sentences can mean a great deal. “I love you.” “I am proud of you.” “I believe in you.” Hearing these statements from someone we care about and respect can make all the difference in the world.
Equally powerful are their negative counterparts. “I hate you.” “I am disappointed in you.” “I can't trust you anymore.” These simple sentences can do great damage. They are the words that can break our hearts and deflate our spirits in an instant.
In today's Gospel, Jesus does not let us forget that we have the power to destroy. Simple words can tear the fabric of a life. We are called as his followers to avoid the temptation to sin with our words. To avoid the temptation of power. To avoid the temptation to bring another person down just because we can or just because we feel mad at the world.
We are called to be a people who pay attention not only to what goes into our bodies, but also what comes out. To be aware of the great power we possess as his followers, as children of God. We have the power to build up. To create. As Jesus gained followers and spread his message, as he healed and taught with words, so too can we build up the kingdom of God with our words. We can use our words to build each other up. To counter the forces of evil in the world. To repair and redeem broken relationships. To share the Good News with those who are hungry to hear it. To remind people that they are beloved of God.
To be a follower of Christ is to use our power for good. It is to use our words to be a creative, uplifting presence in the world. We are called to follow our Lord in the path of righteousness, to build up the kingdom of God with our actions, and our words.
AMEN.
