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Philip
was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found
Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote
in
the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
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The
group Buckcherry begins their song "Sorry" this way: "I had a lot to
say; I was
thinking on my time away. I missed you
and things weren’t the same ‘cause everything
inside—it never comes out right,
and when I see you cry, it makes me want to die." The man in the
relationship had said some
things, and now he finally realizes what he has said, and he was
wrong—he
should never have said them. And so, he
apologizes: "I’m sorry I’m bad, I’m sorry
I’m blue, I’m sorry about all the
things I said to you, and I know I can’t take it back." The
song contains an insight that every person in our world should know and
understand: you can never take back what you have said, even if
you did not mean the words you used.
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If
there is a fact that everyone should dwell on as they are developing a
love relationship, indeed, any relationship, it is the fact that if you
say something, it can never be un-said, even if you say that
you didn't mean it. It is as if what is said is written on the
minds of
all who heard the words--forever to be seen, forever to be heard.
The words of Nathanael in John's Gospel seem to be words that Nathanael wished would never have been said. They were probably words of initial reaction, maybe trying to be funny, but definitely degrading of someone whom he did not even know, and words of prejudgment of someone who was to help him. This person from Nazareth was not only good, but was the means to his eternal life. But he would never be able to take back what he said. What this means for our lives, whether romantic or otherwise, is that we have to recognize the power of words, and be very careful when it comes to using them. It is especially important to understand when we may be upset, as the man in Buckcherry's song. He said something that was negatively critical, and he used words that he was extremely sorry he used. In establishing relationships, we have to use words, but we have to be cautious both in what we say, and how we say it, especially if we are criticizing someone or something in a negative way. |
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THOUGHT
What
are one or two occasions in our lives in which we must be especially
careful of the words we use?
PRAYER Good
and gracious God, you have given us the gift of speech. Help us
understand how important it is for us to be
totally aware of how we are saying the words that we use, and help us
as we use those words to build relationships with others. Be with us,
we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |