Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent…They said, ‘This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.’…Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, May 16, 2022
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me.” Do you remember being taught this? It’s wholly false, of course. Words have incredible power to hurt us.
When Paul was preaching throughout several Gentile countries, it seems even he feared for his safety. God reassured him it was ok to speak, and so he remained in Corinth for a year and a half (that would have been quite a long time if he was going to be attacked for his words, don’t you think?). But the words did finally begin to catch up with him. Eventually, local Jews brought him to the local judge who refused to get involved in matters of words and interpretations of words. In response, the Jews went into the synagogue that had allowed Paul to preach, and beat the official of the synagogue in front of the tribunal where Gallio held his court. Still, Gallio refused to pay any attention.
Even today we are at war with words. Unfortunately, the words that seem to have the most influence are words that are untrue. And the words that hold the most truth are also the most feared. We are at a place and time right now where lots of people seem to be speaking, but few are listening. Maybe we can contribute to the weakening of this war of words by committing to listen, to empathize, and to compromise.
