“…Let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.”
Jeremiah 18:18
Day 15: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent – Jeremiah 18:18
“…Let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.”
Today’s Lenten Reflection
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Do you remember that old chant from the playground? Once we grow beyond hopscotch and dodgeball though, we quickly realize that words do indeed have power. Words spoken or withheld can, in fact, hurt us very much … and the Bible makes this point very clear.
In today’s reading in Jeremiah, we see an angry throng looking to take Jeremiah’s truthful words and use them against him. This is possibly the worst way words can be weaponized. Things taken out of context or twisted to suit another’s agenda can be destructive to people on both sides of the equation — especially the innocent party. Even in the Gospel, as the disciples (and their mother) argued over who would have the best position, it was the words spoken too quickly and without deeper thought that got them into trouble. They did not understand the weight of what they were saying or what they were asking for. Yet they found out soon enough, when they, too, were made to suffer for being followers of Christ. At the time though, they were so caught up in a war of words that they failed to hear (and understand) the warnings of Jesus. Yes words matter, especially when we wield them against another person in an attempt to better ourselves or our position — whether at work, in church, in the community, or around our own kitchen tables.
Day 15 Lenten Meditation
If you spend any time on social media, eventually you will come across a “meme” that reminds you that when it comes to the words we use, there are three things to remember before you speak (or post): Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Think about those questions for a few moments. How often do we say things that, even if they are true, are not very kind or necessary? It may feel like a high standard to keep, but it is a worthwhile code of conduct to live by. The next time you think about saying something that has the potential to hurt someone else, stop for a minute and take a deep breath. Ask yourself those three questions and then decide if it is really worth it. To God it is. So to us it should be as well.
Lenten Prayer
Father, we come to You today knowing that too often we focus on temporal words rather than the only Word that truly matters — the Word among us. May that be our starting point now and always. Help us to guard our mouths and our actions, using them only to edify and lift others higher. During times of persecution and sorrow, help us to see Your goodness and cling to You for strength and vindication. Amen.
Today’s suggested Penance
*Serve someone in love today by lifting them with every word you speak
“The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves” –Jarred Wilson.
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