Words

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,

that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.

- Isaiah 50:4

While Isaiah’s “Suffering Servant” may know how to sustain the weary with just a word, James’ letter this week comes from a very different perspective:

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes… If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits… How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire… With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.

I don’t know about you, but I resonate with James’ than with Isaiah this week. Perhaps you do, too, because I bet we’ve probably all said awful things about another person from time to time, even if only under our breath. We know what it feels like to have said something that hurt another. We sometimes embellish and boast, color the truth and lie, spurt out things that were better left unsaid and just generally put our foot in it all too often.

We also know what it is like to offend when we’d had no intention of offending. What is said and what is heard are often two different things and our impact does not always match our intent. Our teaching or giving advice is not always received in the spirit it was offered. Words can be really tricky to use well.

So, does this mean we should just keep our mouths shut? Clearly not, because we have the important gifts of speech and communication. However, it does mean that we need to be very intentional about how and when we use our words. There are definitely times it would be better to say nothing than to speak. At other times, it would be far better to speak up than to be silent. Sometimes that’s a hard discernment to make. Being intentional and responsible with our words takes practice.

Prayer can help us here. There is a reason we call Jesus “The Word.” In his words, teaching and actions we can perceive the Word of God. And if we practice our own words, teaching and actions in him, we can learn a little more every day about how to better choose and use our words. So when in doubt, pray about it. Ask for guidance about your words from The Word, and open yourself to perceive the guidance that will come.

We all make mistakes, as James says. We will never be perfect with our words. But we can be more thoughtful and prayerful and loving in how we use them if we remain close to the one who “has the words of eternal life.”

Our readings for this Sunday are here.