Trinity 12, 2024. Empowered to Speak: God's Gift of Speech

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Today, the Holy Spirit reminds us of his gift of speech. Our ability to speak, confess, praise, and proclaim his truth is a gift empowered and guided by God himself. As we meditate on this gift together, we'll see throughout the Scriptures how God has used the mouths of his people, often despite our inadequacies, to fulfill his purposes. And in the discovery of their voices, we shall find our own.

We begin with Moses, who doubted his eloquence, yet God reassured him, saying, "Who has made man's mouth? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak." Similarly, Isaiah’s experience shows us that before we can speak for God, we must be purified by him. The psalmist sings, "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." It is a beautiful, purifying, and glorious thing to read, sing, and declare God's word.

Consider Balaam, a prophet hired to curse Israel, yet God intervened, even opening the mouth of Balaam's donkey to rebuke him. Despite Balaam's misguided intentions, God took control of his speech to accomplish his purposes. Balaam couldn't curse but only bless Israel. This story reminds us that God's will cannot be thwarted by human intentions or societal commands.

Peter, who once denied Jesus out of fear, boldly proclaimed Christ’s gospel at Pentecost, leading to the baptism of about 3,000 souls. His reliance on the scriptures and the truth of Christ's death and resurrection gave power to his message. John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus, provides us a model for how our speech should always direct others to Christ. When he saw Jesus, he declared, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Mary, the mother of our Lord, provides a powerful example of rejoicing in the Lord. Her Magnificat shows us the natural response of a heart overwhelmed by God's grace. Similarly, Zechariah and Simeon lifted their voices in songs of praise when they witnessed God's salvation. David's psalms drove away evil spirits from King Saul, demonstrating the power of song in proclaiming God's truth.

The Eighth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," highlights the responsibility we have in controlling our tongues and using our speech truthfully. St. Paul urges us to speak life-giving words that align with Scripture. By adhering to sound doctrine, our words become instruments of God's grace, bringing light and hope to those around us.

Reflecting on these biblical examples, we see that God purifies, empowers, and purposes our speech. From Moses to St. Paul, each was called to speak by the power of God made perfect in weakness. Jesus' words on the cross carried profound significance, declaring love, victory, and trust in God. He says to you today, "You are forgiven," and it is so. He puts his Spirit within you to cry out in words too deep for human ears, giving you the words to proclaim, "Christ crucified for me."

This week, reflect on how you are using your words. Are they bringing glory to God? Are they pointing others to Christ? Are they seasoned with grace and truth? In your family, workplace, and community, ensure your speech consistently proceeds from Christ. Though you cannot do it alone, God can and does. Let us now beg him to cleanse our hearts, purify our speech, and empower us to speak his word of life, truth, and grace for the benefit of our neighbor and the glory of God.