This Coming Sunday, September 16th 2012 at Saint Paul’s: “The Fiery Tongue and the Sustaining Tongue” (James 3:6 & Isaiah 50:4)

Dear Christian Friends,

Words…they get a lot of attention in Scripture and if we perceive them in terms of logos, then they should, because this is the stuff of revelation. That which is “Word” reveals what is behind it. If you want to know the Father, then you must know the Word made flesh Jesus; and if you want to know Jesus, then you need to get behind Him…and receive the Word of Holy Scripture and the Word of the Holy Sacrament…there is no knowing without the Word.

But we speak words too and in a very real sense our words “get behind us” or better said they “reveal” us, they reveal our hearts…out of the overflow of the heart, a man speaks. This is what Jesus taught (Matthew 12). Needless to say to take stock of our words is to wind-up realizing we are far from God’s holiness. In fact, our words prove we are worthy of condemnation. But this “fire” coming from our words is not confined to hurting ourselves (they do that well enough), but the fire spreads from us to hurt others. James 3:6: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”

Needless to say, we are in deep trouble. Our words set us on fire and this is the stuff of hell, not heaven.

This is where our Old Testament reading from Isaiah 50:4 comes in to give us hope. The Word of the LORD which is greater than our words: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.” Isaiah describes a different word…this one does not set on fire, but it sustains. It helps. How overwhelming — in the best sense of the Word — that LORD speaks His words of absolution on us poor sinners?! Our condemning fire is quenched (extinguished) through the Niagra Falls of Holy Baptism, because God speaks a more powerful Word, a sustaining Word that helps and brings life upon sinners in flames: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Not long ago I saw the movie “The Help”…I was moved by the positive influence of the Nanny upon the little children she cared for. In language lacking the luster of education, nevertheless power flowed from the Nanny upon the child: “You is kind…you is smart…you is important!” Words are powerful!

Listen to God poor sinner; He speaks to you:

“You are mine!”

 

“You are forgiven!”

 

“You are sustained!”

 

In Jesus Name,

 

Rev. Dr. Espinosa

 

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