Repair and restore

Fr. Russ Bergman
Feb 21
1 min read

Pope Leo’s Lenten challenge to the world comes right from Isaiah today. “Remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech.” Words are the basis of our faith, the Word of God, the Word made flesh, preserved in the words of Tradition, the Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium’s careful examination of these words to educate and edify. The Holy Father invites us to avoid harsh words, especially those directed at the defenseless. Jesus admonishes us the same way^{: “}it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles” Matt 15:11. Sometimes, what remains inside a person ruminates with negative self-talk. Our challenge is to be a “repair of the breach” and a “restorer of ruined homesteads”, beginning with the words we chose. May God help us all cultivate thoughts and words that repair and restore.

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