Thank you for joining me on this live-stream of today’s Mass. Of course, we all wish we could be celebrating the 6^thSunday of Easter together as a community, but the current health crisis is preventing that for now. But God is always present where two or three are gathered in His name, even if we are gathered “virtually.”

This weekend we are starting a brand new message series entitled “More Than Words.” Our words matter. They are incredibly important. The words we speak shape the way we look at life and they greatly influence the people around us. 

How often do we speak without really thinking about what we are saying because we discount their effect. The truth is that words have incredible power. They can hurt us and wound us, damage and destroy. On the other hand, the properly placed word can bring healing and health, refreshment and renewal, and encouragement to the soul. 

The book of Proverbs says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will know its fruits” (Proverbs 18.21). Our words matter because we have been made 

in the image and likeness of God. Genesis tells us that God spoke the world into existence. God spoke it and it happened.

Of course, we don’t have that kind of power, however, through the words we are consistently speaking, we’re sowing seeds, seeds that, over time bear fruit for better or for worse. Words have power, and that’s what this series is all about.

Today, we want to look at a certain set of words that are, in fact, negative words. We’re going to take a brief look at negative speech and some of the problems we face from them.

There are probably things that you’ve said that you would give anything to take back. Hopefully not too many, but probably some. Frankly, there’s not much to be done about it aside from apologizing.

However we’re not talking about that today. We’re talking about another kind of negative talk that is the opposite of a misstatement or one-time blunder of speech. Rather we are look at patterns of speech that we probably develop over time, patterns which we don’t even perhaps recognize, but patterns that become habitual. These patterns of speech can be addressed and corrected. And that’s what we’re going to look at today.

To help us, we are going to look at a passage from First Peter. First Peter is a letter written by the Apostle Peter that can be found in the New Testament. It was originally addressed to Christians in Roman provinces in what is now northern Turkey around the year 64. This was the period of the Emperor Nero who brutally persecuted Christians. Peter writes to them as an encouragement and perseverance in the face of persecution and hardship. And he does so with some pretty basic advice.

And so Peter writes: “Do not return evil for evil or deception for deception, but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For he that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deception…slander…malicious speech” (1 Peter 3:9-10).

Among other things, St. Peter is saying that as Christians we should aim at avoiding sins of speech no matter the circumstances. What are these sins? St. Peter mentions three of them specifically.

First he mentions “deception” (1 Peter 3:9). Deception, or lying is saying something 

we know not to be true. Sometimes our lies seem harmless, we call them “white lies,” such as lying about your age or how well you did on a test. Saying something that makes you look better, or softens an unpleasant fact. The problem with these little lies is that they open the door to bigger, bolder lies. We can get good at it, it becomes easy to do.

One lie, one single lie has the power to permanently tarnish a relationship, sever business ties, and erode confidence in an organization or institution. Yet, as damaging as lies are, almost every one of us, probably the vast majority of people have lied about something to someone, 

probably even to people we love. As destructive as it is, lying is a common sin. Another part of this sin is not lying per se, but manipulating others by using words we know will build distrust.

Next St. Peter cautions against, “…slander” (1 Peter 3:16). Slander, and its accompanying sin of gossip are talking about someone else in a negative or unflattering way…trafficking in information that is really none of our business.

Gossip is spreading information which may or may not be true, slander spreads rumors or lies we know to be false. Sometimes we justify gossip as concern or dress it up as a necessary exchange of information. But you know it’s gossip when you’re not part of the problem and you’re not part of the solution. Gossip always comes out of an insecurity within ourselves or an envy for others, a distraction from our own problems, or celebrating another failures in order to feel good about myself.

The antidote to gossip is prayer. When you’re tempted to speak about someone else, pray for them instead. And, when someone else approaches you with gossip, here’s how you graciously shut them down: say something nice about the person in question.

Finally St. Peter says a third form of sin in speech comes with, “…malicious speech” (1 Peter 3:16). This is basically murmuring and complaining. Murmuring and complaining are unkind, because they totally lack appreciation and consideration for the other person; they’re dishonest because they’re basically mischaracterizing or exaggerating the reality, and they find their basic source in ingratitude.

You want to know something else about murmuring and complaining? It’s boring. It’s unattractive, and nobody wants to hear it. If you have to blow off steam, and all of us do 

from time to time, take it to a safe place, one other person, and then let it die there. If, on the other hand, you find yourself complaining a lot, start saying “thank you” more often.

The words that come out of our mouth are a reflection of our heart. Malicious words of complaint reveal an ungrateful heart. Deceptive words reveal a heart filled with pride. Slanderous words can reveal an envious heart. 

On the other hand, St. Peter teaches, when you “…[speak] blessing and you will inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3.9). Speak encouragement, speak approval, speak respect and honor, speak the truth in love, speak blessing and your heart will be blessed.

So here’s my challenge this week. Monitor your words in some deliberate way to examine more carefully and consistently what they reveal about your heart. Just pay attention 

to what you’re saying this week. Or better yet, ask someone close to you to help you monitor your speech, ask them to give feedback: you spouse or your kids will probably be more than happy to help you out with this. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus promises to send the Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit who is given as our Advocate and guide. He calls the Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 

We need that truth in order to be honest with ourselves about the ways we need to change our words so we can change our lives and positively influence the lives of people around us.

Words have power and God’s word has God’s power. Use that power.