There is something that is invisible to the naked eye, yet found in every part of the world, that has the power to alter the course of our very lives. It can create breathtaking highs and unimaginable joy, or it can inflict scars that never heal and can even cause death. It can be found among Ethiopia and Yemen’s poor and starving. It can be found in every casino in Las Vegas. It can be found in North Korea, Buckingham Palace, and the White House. It can be found in the refugee camps of Gaza and even in the halls of the Vatican. In fact, it is here before you right now.
It’s not some top-secret artificial intelligence or weapon of mass destruction. No, it’s not a drug or some microscopic medical procedure. People who have studied this phenomenon have found that every one of us comes in contact with it an average of 18,000 times a day. So, what exactly is this life-altering occurrence? Words. The power of words can bring death, and they can bring life.
This Sunday, we begin Holy Week with Passion Sunday, and we hear how the Jews threatened Jesus’ life, not because of what he did, but because of what he said, his words. Because he was the “Word of God.” We only have to look as far as the Book of Genesis to see how powerful words are. The creation of the universe happened purely by the spoken Word of God. If that’s too mythical of a story for us, then let’s look at our world today. Let’s look at the words of our politicians and government leaders. Some words can create encouragement and hope, while others can create fear, violence, and racial discrimination. Our schools, too, are sanctuaries of words. These havens can open and broaden minds and shape life experiences but can also hold words of terror when our children are bullied and traumatized for being different or unique.
Words can be positive and focus on the negative. Words can build up or tear down. Words can be life-giving, and words can bring betrayal and destruction. Whatever our actions or words might have been along the way, our long Lenten journey has now brought us to the very gates of Jerusalem. Like the disciples and followers of Jesus, this weekend, we too will sing our words of Hosannas, we will listen to the words of Jesus’ passion, we will hear the words “this is my body – this is my blood,” we will speak the words “peace be with you.” Words, powerful words. They will be among the other 18,000 words you will utter that day.
While our words hold enormous power for evil and for good, the Word of God is infinitely more powerful to transform our words into life. Ready or not, this coming week, we come face to face with our destiny and our words. Will they bring us death, or will they bring us eternal life? Are we ready for them to bring us both?
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