WORDS Words shape our attitudes, reveal emotions and motivate behavior, positively or negatively.Use them wisely. Listen to the words of others.
The LORD God created the universe, space, time and matter, with His spoken “Let there be.” He asks us to be serious with our vows, promises, blessings and teachings. We create relationships with our words. We break realationships with words. Sacred Tradition (words, philosophies and practice, doctrines and principles) and Sacred Scripture (the Word became flesh: John 1: 14) ) leads, teaches, comforts, guides and protects us, transforms, empowers and enlightens us -- separately and collectively.
Words matter.
GLORY TO GOD
WORDS
WORDS DEFINE
BASIC THOUGHTS ABOUT WORDS
the Word became Flesh
We have made contracts with one another using words. We are granted rights and freedoms through words. We express our hearts with sweet words. Let us speak to the issues in our time. Let us watch for words that manipulate the true meaning of the intent. Let us be watchful. Be ye alert.
Sacred Tradition (spoken words) and Sacred Scripture (The Word) leads, teaches, comforts, guides and protects us, transforms, empowers and enlightens us to be holy, separately and collectively, through the Power and Might of the Holy Spirit of God. Written or spoken, words hold power, extending blessings or curses, lies or truth. Words are used to communicate and teach. Words teach us how to think and act.
All observed and experienced actions reflect who we are. We model after our parents and peers. In matters of morals and religion, our words and actions form the character of next generation, creating what will hold up a society for the common good, or weaken it.
The seen and unseen in the reality of our days and night, affect us consciously and subconsciously. We are unaware of the process of forming our conscience. St. Thomas Aquinas states, "When a person reaches a reasoned conclusion about his own duty the conclusion is a practical judgment. This judgment is called conscience. Hence conscience is not a special faculty; it is an act of the faculty of intellect as reason. ("Summa Theologica," Pars Prima, q. 79, a.13) Sometimes we do what we don't want to do. Sometimes it is difficult to do what we truly know to do. Words lead us. Lies mislead us. Lies are set in shifting sand. God's Absolute Truth has a sound foundation, with a Holy Cornerstone -- Jesus Himself.
BASIC THOUGHTS ABOUT WORDS
Each word we use indicates our thinking, motives, attitudes and beliefs-- good or bad. We tell more about ourselves with our style of word-presentation of opinions and wisdom than we think. There is honesty is our words that even we don't realize. We give more away in our words than our fashionable wardrobe displays. There is power in our words, clearly obvious in the process used by our Creator God who spoke the universe into existence with just His Words, "Let there be." We, too, hold power in our promises, vows, and contracts AND in our lies. The language within one century teaches the next generation about mores/customs, morals/principles and lifestyles, expectations and standards, obedience and faithfulness in principle. How are we doing? Do we understand each other?
Consider slang: In 1959, if something "bombed," it has flopped. In the 90's, to state something is "a bomb" means it is cool. But "cool" can also means "hot" that indicates something is "hip", like the latest fade, the "in" thing.
Study how Mother Theresa of Calcutta helped people on the streets to die with dignity. Compare her to Dr. Kavorkan who promoted assisted suicide so people could die before they lose their "dignity." The line of "dignity" is straight and narrow, and to move slightly off the line to attain a goal, takes us beyond the limit, the boundary keeping us safe, holy and righteous.
Consider the word slave and servant, one working outside their freewill forced to produce, another serving freely according to full choice. Then again, we might use the word "slave" to sometimes mean addictive (being a slave to the job), yet by freewill, a person chooses to indulge in what holds them in bondage. Or, when a servant begins to resent someone or the job, the heart entertains slavery, burdened with routine or poor leadership, with pride or a poor relationship. If we don't accurately define each of these, the differnce betwewn freedom and bondage blurs. How awful to justify poor perceptions, to be ignorant and make mistakes we can't make right. From every good heart flows a worthy sacrifice -- something Our LORD introduced as His Way -- to become our way. We know love and serve the LORD God, who in return calls us "friends" --"You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed yout o go and bear mcuh fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in my Name. This, then is what I command you: love one another (John 15: 15-17). What is not of Him is outside of His Grace, Mercy and Blessings. Therein, we strive after holiness and goodness -- we pick a side -- good ro bad. Words form thoughts and ideas that develop attitudes. Attitudes control our perception out of words and actions (actions speak louder than words). How we view ourselves and others, the world and the universe, Our Creator God and His Absolute Truth determines how we live our lives -- all expressed in words inside our thinking, our heart and mind and spirit. Those words, what we tell ourselves, precede actions because we think according to our understanding before we act or react.
We express ourselves while accepting or rejecting the expressions of others -- with words and actions. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can forever hurt me.
Humanity is created in the Image and Likeness of God, given power in the heart, mind and spirit, but through freewill, can compete with their Creator God. We must know who we are and who God is.
"A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it. G.K. Chesterton, Everlasting Man, 1925
