Studying the
gospel this week, something stuck in my mind. It was a rhyme from my childhood.
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
Our mother’s
taught it to us when we were young. My mother gave those words to a little boy
picked on by older kids.
Since this
rhyme stuck in my mind, I knew there was more to it, so I googled it. I
couldn’t find the origin. I did find that it was part of an article in The Christian Recorder Magazine during
Lent in March 1862.
The article’s
words were - Sticks and stones will break
my bones, but words will never harm me. And it added this - True courage consists in doing what is right, despite the jeers and
sneers of our companions.
This is a
great message for this Lent.
The truth is
that words will never harm us; but, the Word of God will save us; …if you
confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Many will profess this faith but they lack courage. They are afraid of
words others will say. It becomes a battle of words.
The gospel shares the greatest battle of words found in the temptation
of Christ. It is the Battle of the Word;
a battle between the Word of God and the words of temptation of the Devil.
After 40 days of fasting in the wilderness and filled with the Holy
Spirit, Jesus was tempted by the Devil.
The Devil taunts Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, prove
it!” The Devil tempts Jesus with pleasures of the body and riches, power, and
glory.
The devil was tempting Jesus, testing God, and the Devil failed.
The Devil failed because he has no power over God and the Holy Spirit.
When you and I confess Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Devil
has no power over us. In that, we can find courage.
All the Devil has is words; but words are all it takes for those afraid
of the opinions, jeers, and sneers of this world. Words are all it takes for
temptation to overtake the weak. Look only to the leaders of our country.
If you turned on the news Ash Wednesday, many of our nation’s
political leaders had ashes on their foreheads. Ashes would have been a great
example if they realized they were sinners. It would have been a great example
if they wore ashes to repent for falling for the temptations of the Devil.
But sadly, most only hear the words of the Devil’s empty promises for
pleasure, riches, power, and glory. Our leaders, who say they are Catholic and
lawmakers who say they follow Christ, fall to temptations.
And, they wear their ashes. They disrespect the Eucharist, receiving
the body and blood of Christ and in the next instant champion the killing of the
innocent.
The faithful ask how they can do this. Remember, even the devil admitted Jesus was
the “Son of God.”
Our leaders say they are against abortion but can't tell another what
to believe. Misguided by the devil, they believe their words are courage.
Instead, they are words that pierce
the side of Jesus once more. They crucify Christ, The Word of God, again and
again.
True courage consists of doing right despite the sneers and jeers of
the world. It is proclaiming Christ, the Word of God, again and again. Christians must have true courage.
Like the courage of Jesus who told the Devil “You shall not
put the Lord, your God, to the test."
We see this test
in politicians and our country’s leaders. But also, it is in us. The
words of temptation may not be as big; but, all people can put the Lord our God
to the test by their words and deeds.
Inside each of our hearts is a battle between the Word of God and the words of temptation of the Devil. People don’t want
to hear the Word of God. They are afraid of what others will say.
Remember a mother’s
advice. Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Words
never harm us unless we fall for the temptation of the Devil’s words.
My friends, if
we confess Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Devil has no
power over us.
Instead have
courage.
Be good, be holy, and preach
the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen
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