The poet Anne Sexton once wrote that words may be both daisies and bruises. We live in a time when words seem to wound and divide people more than heal and unite them. Whether in the realm of politics or religion, words have become weapons more often than bridges to understanding and cooperation. But we are a people who over the centuries have been formed by the word of God in both the Old and New Testament.
Both Moses and Jesus knew the power of words that have taken root in the human heart and carry over into action. In the book of Deuteronomy Moses gives his final speech to the people he has led out of bondage and brought to the border of the Promised Land. He calls them not only to wear these words on their body as emblems of faith, but to “take these words of mine into your heart and soul” (Deuteronomy 11:18).
Jesus begins by saying that words alone are not enough; what matters in the end is doing the will of the Father. And what is the Father’s will? Go back and read the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 — 7:29). The call to live in a way that brings the law of Moses to fulfillment is to be heard, taken to heart, and carried into action. The instruction given to the disciples remains an urgent command to bring about the kingdom of heaven now. Jesus’ words will be a sturdy shelter that protects them when battering storms threaten to overwhelm.
Consider/Discuss
Take some time to reread the Sermon on the Mount.
- Which of Jesus’ words do you find most challenging?
- Which do you feel are particularly addressed to you at this time of your life?
- Is there a word that you are hearing for the first time?
Responding to the Word
We pray that our lives will have a strong foundation on the teachings of Jesus. We pray that his words will be seeds that bear fruit in lives of justice, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. We ask that these words find a home in our heart and soul.