How we can receive more from the Mass - 7

Do you remember being told, ‘Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you’?

From my youngest days, I never really liked that aphorism.  It always seemed far too simplistic.  The central message, that we should rise above taunts, jeers and insults, is fair enough.  But words most certainly DO have power.

I recall many years ago, a friend who was a dedicated and skilled primary school teacher, was sitting with one of my children – then aged 5 – as he was attempting some handwriting.  A well-judged word of encouragement, and suddenly he was trying all the harder, with noticeably improved results. 

On the other hand, a careless or cruel word can cut someone down, destroy confidence or remove their sense of self-worth.  Who does not still harbour some memory of a hurtful word that someone said to you many, many years ago?

On a bigger scale, words can inspire and live long in the memory: “We shall fight on the beaches…,” “Ask not what your country can do for you...,” “I have a dream…,” 

And words can drive people to the most terrible deeds: think of the Nuremberg rallies, or social media posts that have inflamed recent unrest and riots.

If the words of mere humans can have such potency, how much more powerful is the Word of God?  God spoke, and there was light; Jesus, the Word of God Incarnate, drew vast crowds because he spoke with authority, unlike the pharisees and scribes; on the first Pentecost, God’s Word spoken through Peter, caused such stirrings in the human heart that about 3,000 believed and were baptised that very day.

How can we not be sitting on the edge of our seats, eager to be nourished by God’s Word as it is proclaimed to us during Holy Mass?

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