Can I Have A Word?

Passages: Is. 24:1-12; Eph. 5:15-33; Lk. 8:49-56
Ընթերցուածքներ՝ Եսայ. ԻԴ 1-12; Եփե. Ե 15-33; Ղկ. Ը 49-56

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!

We’ve all heard the nursery rhyme, “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never [or can’t really] hurt me.” This is a play on the idea that physical hurt is far more impactful than verbal; words are not actions. We use our words to express frustration, joy, love and all sorts of feelings. We use our words to discuss or argue, to share or reply to conversations surrounding various topics. We also use our words to make our needs and wants known to others. Above all else, we use our words to pray. So often I hear criticism about the Orthodox Churches prewritten prayers being too mechanical and automated and that the words of prayer should come from the heart and be spoken in that moment. Yet, so often in our time of prayer we can’t seem to find the words we want; we don’t know how to talk to God, what to say. This can sometimes lead to awkwardness in our attempt to pray where we mumble with words and feel lost. While for many this criticism is valid (we can only answer for ourselves), yet, the prewritten, or poetic prayers of the Holy Church are not void of heart. Those words can be prayed from our heart when we recognize the power behind those words, where our heart is my dears.

In the letter by St. James, we read very heavily about how we as Christian are called to live and express our Christian faith. St. James,  places a strong emphasis on the tongue – our words. In ch. 3:9-10 he says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing…” Our words have power behind them and if we are truly a child of God we need to recognize that power. Because words for God not merely expressions of frustration or wants; words are not just things we say. For God what is a word? Tim Keller in his book says that “our words not only convey information; they get things done.” In the Book of Genesis, what we do read about God’s word? God said, let there be light, God said, let the waters give life, God said and it was done my dears. Yes, God’s word is far more powerful than ours. Yet, when Christ calls us to be Perfect like our Father in Heaven is perfect, it begins by living our life in such a way that reflects God.

This my dears, all comes back to the power behind our words, the heart in our prayers; it is all summed as faith. In Mark 11:24 Christ teaches us, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” In today’s Gospel when we read about a man who receives news that his daughter is dead, what does Christ say? “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” Imagine us in that moment, someone comes and gives us terrible news – what is our initial reaction? Christ knowing what this man had heard, directs his reaction to be prayer; and not just mechanical prayer, or prayer of words but prayer of the heart – words that manifest into action. Do not fear, only believe! Our words my dears, are powerful. Our prayers are powerful. But we need to recognize that power in God, while at the same time being careful of the words of criticism and evil we also speak to one another. God cannot be where we invite evil to be.

If we use our heart, our mind, our words, to curse, to lie, to break down, to cheat, then let us not expect God’s power and presence to be in the words of our mechanical and artificial prayers because though sticks and stones can physically hurt us, the power of words can cut deeper then all. Yet, it is with those same sticks and stones that we build homes, and Churches. It is with our same words we can build one another up, create friendship, share love and pain, and ultimately pray. And when we pray with faith, pray from our heart, even in the times of devastation, our words will manifest into actions, and our lives will be like the reflection of God our Heavenly Father, who sent the WORD, Christ Jesus to renew and transform us from brokenness and death to life.

Let us ask ourselves, what power do we have behind our words? What power do we believe is in our prayers done here in Church or privately at home? Let us seek to God’s presence in our life, so that what He has said will be done in our life. Let us humble our egos, our voices, and our pride asking Christ Jesus for renewal in faith so that our words will create life by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we will become a reflection of God our Heavenly Father. What will we use our words for today?