Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that
you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6
Tomorrow
is Palm Sunday and our Confirmation Class will celebrate the Rite of Confirmation during morning worship
. In the UCC, the vows for Baptism,
Confirmation, Membership, Ordination and Installation are very similar, they
just take on broader meaning as we recognize our gifts and accept greater levels
of service. I think about how those words in each of those vow-taking occasions
change lives.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out
folly. Proverbs 15:1-2
by Kevan Franklin
Several years ago I preached a sermon at Trinity on the Buddhist concept of “Right
Speech” Which goes something like;
”Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to
cultivating loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness
to others and relieve others of suffering.”
After worship, one of our members approached me and told me that her
mother used to say; ”Be sure your words are kind and sweet, you’ll never know
which ones you’ll have to eat!” Apparently, Right Speech has been paraphrased to fit many different kinds of ears, as it should!
"Do you promise, by the grace of God, to be Christ’s disciple, to follow
in the way of our Savior, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and
justice and to witness to the works and words of Jesus Christ as best as you are
able.”
That is our intention. The world is full
of harmful words spoken by careless people. Our Words are important because our
words become actions. Be careful what words you speak, they have the power to change
your life!
Lent Check;
Examine the last thing you said to a family member, a friend, a co-worker.
How does the spiritual idea of being careful with our speech change the way you approach difficult conversations?
Prayer ; God, Speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of your tone. Amen.
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