3rd Thursday of Advent (December 18). Words matter

Prepare to Listen.  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
 
Prayerfully Read Matthew 12:33-37
33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  34You brood of vipers!  How can you speak good things when you are evil?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.  36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter, 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  What’s your reaction to these words from Jesus?
 
“Sticks and stones will break by bones, but names can never hurt me.”  I often recited that as a child, hoping it was true.  But it didn’t take me long to learn that it wasn’t.  Names, words matter.  They can harm or heal, justify (encourage) or condemn.  The writers of Proverbs understood this and often created a proverb about the power of words, such as: “Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  And, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”[1]
 
To emphasize the power of words, Jesus used the imagery of good and bad trees.  The quality of the fruit will depend on whether the tree is good or bad.  Jesus accuses his accusers of being incapable of producing good fruit, speaking good healing words because they are, as both John and Jesus had said (Mt 3:7; 12:34) “a brood of vipers,” i.e., bad trees, those with bad hearts.  Our words, says Jesus, come from the heart: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  We know a person’s heart, what they are truly like, through the words they speak.  Cruel and hurtful words come from a bad heart; kind and healing words from a good heart.  Words reveal whether a person is good or bad, for or against God.  Words matter.
 
How about your words, do they harm or heal, condemn or justify (as in encourage)?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Jesus, you taught us an old truth that we so often forget, that words matter.  Set a guard on my heart today that I may speak good words all the time.  Amen
 
Live Obediently.  Remember, words matter.
[1] Proverbs 12:18; 25:11.