We are social beings. We communicate by words and body language. Words have the power to heal and comfort the broken hearted, give hope to the troubled soul, and strength and support to the weak. However, it can also hurt, shame and humiliate the vulnerable, taking away their dignity as children of God.

The passage from the prophet Isaiah speaks of hope and encouragement to the people as they approached the end of the Jewish exile in Babylon. Unlike human words, God's Word speaks with power and integrity. It has a purpose to remind the exilic people that the promises of God to bring forth new life will be accomplished, transforming creation and lives of the people. The Word of God is like the life -giving rain falling on the earth, nurturing seeds and producing crops to feed the hungry. We too must be mindful and be responsible for the words that come from our mouth. Let them be charitable and life-giving.

Jesus, the Word incarnate, taught His disciples to communicate with God intimately through prayer. Genuine prayer necessarily gives praise and honour to God, the Father, the building of God's kingdom here and now, petitioning for our needs, contrition for our sins, resisting temptations and deliverance from being evil. These must come from a sincere and humble heart, not with many words or empty phrases with manipulative motivation. In truth, these are hopeful words first turning to God our Father, then towards our brothers and sisters.