Taking the Time to Make a Difference

“Because I said so.” You may have heard those words at some point in your life. You may have said them, too, in response to a child’s question, “Why?” If you were watching a TV sitcom, and you heard a parent say those words, the sound track would probably include laughter at the parent’s frustration and inability to explain his or her reasoning. But it seems to me that the words of a parent to a child, “Because I said so,” are often (not always) appropriate. Dangerous behavior. Appropriate conduct. Religious principles. Moral decisions. These are areas where a parent has to have some say-so. A small child is not the equal of the person who is responsible for that child’s health and welfare. Members of a family do not just happen to be co-located in the same building. That was the first thing that came to mind when I thought about those words. I’m glad my parents loved me enough to say them to me.

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The second thing that came to mind must have come through the fantasy and science fiction filter that is within me. As a child, and later in life as well, I enjoyed reading stories of amazing adventures and fantastic powers. What if, I am thinking now, what if things really did happen because of me? “Because I said so.” What if I said to you, “Merry Christmas!” and because I said so, you had a Merry Christmas? Wouldn’t that be a fantastic power to have! What if I used a common profanity and called down God’s condemnation on something? And God would really damn that something, or that someone. Wouldn’t that be awful!

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Words have power, of course, to bring pleasure or pain, and more than that, too. I think I am beginning to understand why the punishment meted out by our criminal justice system is called a “sentence.” Some words have great impact – not because of what is said, but because of the person who says them.

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Here are words from the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the passage that is used for the Mass of Christmas Day.

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

If we really believe this, we accept the notion that what God says, happens. The world was made, because God said so. If we truly believe that Jesus, the only begotten son, is “one with the father,” then we will know that just a word from him can bring healing.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:6

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Take the time to measure your words. They have power to cause pleasure or pain, scandal or inspiration. If you are called upon to speak as one in authority, then speak words that are just. If one who is in authority – someone in your community or in an elected position of governing – do what you must to hold such a one to the truth. Work to make sure the words of government are words of justice. Your words make a difference.

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