September 5th, 2013 Commentary to Henri Nouwen's Daily Meditation

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Thursday September 5, 2013

Choosing Words Wisely

Words are very important.  When we say to someone:  "You are an ugly, useless, despicable person," we might have ruined the possibility for a relationship with that person for life.  Words can continue to do harm for many years.

It is so important to choose our words wisely.  When we are boiling with anger and eager to throw bitter words at our opponents, it is better to remain silent.  Words spoken in rage will make reconciliation very hard.   Choosing life and not death, blessings and not curses often starts by choosing to remain silent or choosing carefully the words that open the way to healing.

My Commentary:

I believe yesterday and today’s Nouwen highlights two important things for us that we don’t necessarily realize.  The first being the power of words, the second is being entrusted with not only words but with the Word as steward and commissioned proclaimer.  Our lives are to be living witnesses of God’s GRACE in the world.  It is important to realize who’s Kingdom do you truly belong?  Jesus said: (John 15:17-20, 26-27 ) “¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. ¹⁸If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²⁶When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. ²⁷You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” 

The Christian journey is not getting easier, it is becoming more complex as well as we must realize that the persecution today is very real.  The martyrs today are those struggling to keep the Gospel flowing and growing in a world curving inward upon itself to idolatry and indifference.  What we say to others we say as God’s ambassadors in the world.  A world we must never forget that is embattled…  Luther was right in saying: “All the cunning of the devil is exercised in trying to tear us away from the word. And though this world with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.”

We are witnesses, we are the Body in this world—may we confess:  May the meditations of our hearts be Holy and acceptable to you o Lord. May we be living GRACE, healing balm to a broken world!

It is your Love that saves us, builds and renews us to be your disciples.

May we never not be grateful for the Journey, Lord—In your most precious name we Pray—AMEN.

God Bless Your Thursdays!

Nicole Collins