Rev. Betsy Aldrich Garland
January 10, 2010
John 1:1-18

What’s in a Word?

“In the beginning was the Word,..” John begins his wondrous prologue, introducing themes he will explore in the gospel, dichotomies such as light and darkness, heaven and earth, God and flesh. These are questions that were of particular interest to his readers – Gentiles and Greeks, Gnostics and disciples of Plato and Pythagoras. John is making the case to this audience, late in the first century, that Jesus is God’s Word, entering into time and space. In the beginning was the Word . . ..

What’s in a word? Is a word a thing? Something you can hold in your hand? No. But you can think a word, or speak a word, and with that word refer to something of substance or an idea, communicate that something to another person, and build ideas upon ideas, like a tower of children’s blocks.

The question brings me back to my freshman biology class at URI 50 years ago. The professor picked up a chair and plunked it down on the dissection table. What do you see? We see a chair. No, what do you see? After a while, we caught on: We saw four tall, rounded pieces of wood, about 1inch in diameter, held together at the top on each corner with a horizontal piece of wood. On one side were more pieces of wood, upright, held together at the top by a piece of wood running across the top of the spokes. Or something like that.

The question, What do you see?, calls forth the greater question: What is the meaning of language? Words are symbols of experiences, feelings, ideas and proposals. Words are not real – but they point to what is real. Simply put, all language is metaphor, code for something else. And words and their multiple meanings certainly can create confusion. Consider this joke circulating on the internet:

A woman goes into the post office to buy stamps for her
Christmas cards. She says to the clerk, “May I have 50
Christmas stamps please?” The clerk says, “What
denomination?” The woman replies, “God, help us!
Has it come to this? Give me 22 Catholic, 12
Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 6 Baptist.

What’s in a word? Words can communicate feelings: “I love you.” “I’m sorry.” “I miss you!” “I am so angry...!” “I am afraid.” “I’m lonely.” Words can serve as moments of grace: “I forgive you.” “I’m calling to offer you the job.” “Yes, our Deacons’ Fund can help with your electric bill.” “Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” And on this communion Sunday, “Take and eat.” “Whenever you do this, remember me.”

What’s in a word? Words can stir things up, like Senator Whitehouse’s speech to Congress last week during the health care debate. Words can pass judgment; and words can kill: It’s not true, what we learned as children on the playground: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” You know it’s not true if you’ve been called “fatty” or “stupid” or worse.

In the beginning was the word. When Kim and I were on vacation two weeks ago, I asked her if she had made any New Year’s resolutions. “No,” she said, “I don’t make resolutions; but I have a word.” “A word? You choose a word for the year?” “No, a word chooses me. It might be ‘boundaries’ or ‘patience’ or ‘courage.’ Sometimes, I keep the same word for several years, until I am finished with that word and am ready for a new one.” “Well, what is your word for 2010?” “I don’t have it yet. It hasn’t come to me.”

Immediately, I knew what my word was for 2010. And I wonder, now that I have introduced the idea, if you have one, too. What is your word for 2010? Is it something you need to learn? Or come to terms with? Or are trying to grow into?

You see, a word is broader – and more gentle – than a resolution. It can focus our attention, keep bringing us back to something important without making us feel guilty. For example, if your word were “health,” it would remind you to choose a carrot over a cookie or a walk over the couch. The word would nudge you toward health, not set you up for unrealistic goals, like losing two pounds a week or running every day, that, when not met, make you feel guilty.

What’s in a word? Do you have your word? If you were to turn to your neighbor in the pew, would you know what his or her word is? I can look out over the congregation and see some words sitting there, in your seats – words like caring, steadfastness, generosity. What is your word? Have you found your word? Or has it found you? During coffee hour, ask someone to guess your word, if you have it. And if you don’t, perhaps someone could help you find it.

I am always amazed, when I run the Gifts Discovery Course, about how many people don’t know that they have a particular gift – or word – but everyone else knows they do! Someone’s always surprised that she has the gift of hospitality – when she’s the first one to reach out to a newcomer or to bring a casserole to a shut-in. Someone else is stunned to hear he has the gift of listening – when he’s the one everyone come to with their troubles. And others are astounded to learn they have the gift of faith or knowledge when they can be counted on to assist with worship or lead Bible study. Almost everyone has a word that he or she has the gift for bringing to life. As John says, the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. Look around you in this sanctuary. Who is full of light? Who tells the truth? Who embodies God’s grace? What Epiphany gifts are manifested right here, in our midst?

What’s in a word? Congregations embody words, too. Think of the churches in this area. What words do they embody? Some congregations seem to be all about hospitality. Some seem to have a gift for prayer or music. Others seem to bring the word “prophetic” to life or are all about justice-making. Congregations don’t have to embody all the words in the gospel, commentator Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, just perhaps one or two, the ones that come to them, that suit them.

So, what are we known for? What is Edgewood Congregational Church’s word? Are we friendly? Accepting? Peace-loving? Are we the neighborhood church – or “the little church that could?” I imagine visitors could tell us, if we asked them, what our word is. At least after several visits. I certainly would hope our word, whatever it is, is life-giving, not deadly – like self-absorbed or judgmental or ingrown or stuck in the past. Do we embody the word we mean to? And if not, how can we change our word? What do you think our word is? Are there visitors here this morning? Ask them. Ask each other. Think about it this week.

John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, . ..” Jesus is the Word, the one in whom the God “no one has ever seen,” to use John’s words, is made known. Jesus, who is close to the Father’s heart – or to use the more accurate translation found in the footnotes, close to God’s “bosom,” evoking mothering images for God. Jesus, leaning on God’s breast, resonating with God’s heartbeat.

Jesus, making God’s Word known to us, giving us power to become children of God, bringing to life God’s Word in us. What’s in a word? Nothing less than our life. Our truth. Our future.

Amen.