Compiled by: Georgeanne Falstrom, Intern
PARISH LAY MINISTRY ACADEMY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Monday April 03, 2006
(Daily Readings: 1 Cor 14:1-9)


“BLAH, BLAH, BLAH"

Scripture: 6Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. 12So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.


When the children were small I had an experience with speaking in tongues. Being a stay-at-home mom, I spent a lot of time listening to babbling. One day as I went about my tasks, my youngest son, Adam, came toddling in. He grabbed my hand, pulled me into the living room, pointed, and made little babbling noises. I smiled, asked my husband to move from the couch, and retrieved Adam’s toy. My husband, suddenly enlightened, said, “Oh – that’s what he was trying to say. He kept babbling and pushing at me, so I told him to go ask momma.”

Any pre-language child and his parents know about speaking in tongues. Though speaking in tongues is in the bible and practiced in other churches, I have yet to meet a Lutheran who speaks in tongues. I rather think that if they did, someone would call an ambulance, thinking they were having a stroke or something.

But, though we don’t speak in tongues on a biblical proportion, maybe we speak in a different kind of tongue. We use words that only we know the meaning of, and worship in ways that only we understand. We babble words of God and push people in an attempt to help them understand. It reminds me of a t-shirt I once saw which read “Your lips are moving but all I hear is blah, blah, blah.” It was funny until I realized that the shirt could be referring to the message we bring about Christ.

God sent his prophets throughout the ages to speak to us, but all we heard was blah, blah, blah. So, God sent Christ to live and die among us as the ultimate message of His undying love. As part of our Lenten observance, perhaps we can find ways to communicate our message more clearly. Perhaps we can be that one person that interprets what the message means, so that others will understand and believe.

Prayer: Loving Father, we are in your world as witnesses to your truth. Help our message be clear so that others can hear the wonders of your ways, as exemplified through Christ, our brother. Amen.