Saint Mary Parish, Pylesville

Christmas into the New Year

My message today is rather brief, but it may be a bit challenging.

The idea is to carry the spirit of Christmas into this New Year and be intentional about doing that. I have one recommendation for doing this.

Intention: Be Thoughtful about Words

Let’s be intentional in our choice of words and expressions.

Let’s be very conscious about how we speak. Let’s make sure we use words and expressions that are in harmony with the gospel and the way Jesus spoke and would speak today.

So, let’s be very intentional about using words that are

unitive and not divisive,

respectful and not diminishing,

reconciling and not distancing.

So, words that are unitive – words that keep people together, words that recognize the basic, human oneness that is or at least should be there.

Words that are not divisive – words that label some people as friends and others as enemies, words that name make some people as good and others as bad, words that make some people insiders and others outsiders.

Then, words that are respectful – words that treat others with human dignity even if they are very different from us, even if we very much disagree with them, even if they have offended us.

Words that are not diminishing – words that bash others, words that belittle others, words that make others less than we are.

And then, words that are reconciling – words that admit my mistake, words that accept the apology of others, words that try to understand the perspective or, life experience of others.

Words that are not distancing – words that try to justify my distance from others, words that stereotype whole races or ethnic groups or nationalities or races or religions.

Make a Difference

This one thing, being intentional about the words we use, carefully watching the words we use – this is a way to carry the spirit of Christmas into the New Year.

This can make a real difference. I believe that this effort flows from the God who literally became one of us in Jesus who was born of Mary.

And, in this New Year, 2018, this intention is needed. It can make a difference in our family, among our friends, in our community, our parish, our bigger Church, and indeed, in our country.

So, one thing: So, let’s be very intentional about choosing and using words that are

unitive and not divisive,

respectful and not diminishing,

reconciling and not distancing.

Regardless of what others do or what words they use, we could make a real contribution if we really tried to do this!