Words have power. We may remember a poem we’ve heard, or some words of Shakespeare. Perhaps a bible verse still inspires us. When someone told us they loved us, we were deeply moved. Perhaps someone unjustly criticized us, and that hurt cut to the bone. Words have power.
The words of Jesus have power. As his followers we are invited to listen to his words and take them to heart. He does not force us to listen to his words and embrace them. We are free to ignore them – at cost to ourselves.
As followers of Christ, we have the responsibility not only of listening to Christ’s words, spoken through the scriptures and Church teaching, but we have a responsibility of carefully using our own words for good. Words have power.
Our world is filled with many words. We are bombarded by words and images on our television or computer devices. CBS, Fox, CNN, PBS, NBC, ABC, BBC and other news outlets present the news. We try to separate the sensational from the necessary, the true from the fake. We post words and images on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. Often, we read negative comments which insult and hurt others. Sometimes we read positive and complimentary words.
Words have power to unite or destroy. Words can open doors or close doors; words can heal, console, or teach. But words can also manipulate, deceive, and crush. Every ill-founded word judges us and reveals our ignorance.
We read in the gospel Jesus saying: “So, I tell you this, that for every unfounded word people utter they will answer on Judgment Day, since it is by your words you will be justified, and by your words condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37)
Jewish rabbi Abraham Heschel is quoted as saying: “Words must not fall off our lips like dead leaves in autumn. They must rise like birds out of the heart into the vast expanse of eternity.”
Our faith teaches us that God is community – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From the perfect and unimaginable love that exists in God, is breathed forth God’s Word. God’s Word is so powerful that God creates the cosmos, the galaxies, life, and human beings. “In the beginning was the Word . . .” begins the Gospel of John.
God’s creative Word brings ever-greater complexity into the world, uniting the smallest particles of matter, into the stars, galaxies, planets, life on earth, and humanity. As the human population on earth increases, God desires to invite humanity to work in creating ever greater unity and complexity in creation. The unifying force is God’s own self – God’s love.
The word “community” has an interesting origin or etymology. It comes from the Latin words cum, meaning “with,” and unitatem, meaning “united.” To be in community is to be "united with."
We are aware of other similar words to “community,” like “communication,” “communion,” “in common,” and “excommunicate.” At Mass we receive Holy Communion which unites us with Christ and one another. The Church becomes a “holy communion or community.”
Our communication should result in community and communion with others. But often words are used to divide and harm others, and to confuse or distort the truth. Falsehood, fake new, distortions of the truth, or outright lying destroy community. It divides, breaks down trust, demonizes others, and presents stumbling blocks to others. Spreading fake news makes us complicit in breaking down unity.
Why do people spread fake news, distort the truth, or lie? We do so to protect our image, to enhance our importance or power, to manipulate others to do what we want, and to hide from the truth.
The Church, and secular society, uses the words “calumny” and “detraction.” Calumny is an untruth, a fabrication, a false account, intended to harm the reputation of another. “Detraction” is sharing of something objectively true (but not necessary for people to know) about someone else, with the intention of harming or diminishing another person.
Not only do we need to speak words of truth that build community, heal, and reconcile, but we are challenged to listen to the words of others. If we listen to one another we can eventually hear their concerns, and with good will, come to some type of understanding and respect.
But sometimes we are reluctant to listen to one another. Sometimes we are more concerned about getting our point across than listening to what the other is saying. We end up talking at each other, and not with each other.
How do we discover words that lie, manipulate, and present fake news? It is not always easy, for we often do not have the background or facts to analyze the words of others. But we can offer a simple guide: “Do my words heal, reconcile, build unity, and community, or do my words destroy, ridicule, injure, and break relationship?” Do my words of truth promote reflection, respectful dialogue, and unity and reconciliation? Or do my words divide and break community, and further isolate or separate one group or person from the others?
Our world is becoming more united through technology, social media, and our ability to readily travel from one corner of the earth to another. However, it has a long way to go to become united at a deeper level of the heart and of respect for one another. Our words have power to unite the whole world, its people, and all creation, in mutual respect. God’s Word made flesh has been given to us to show the way.