Reflection - Language

By Steve Hall

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070222.cfm
Amos 9:11-15
Matthew 9:14-17

Many who grew up reading books have or have had a challenging time reading on their computer or pad or other electronic devises. Personally, I’m comfortable reading novels on an electronic devise but remain totally uncomfortable reading scientific, legal or any serious documents other than on paper. In fact, I find it difficult to read fiction on the internet if I intend to critique it. 

I would imagine that older societies, those which relied primarily on verbal communication and story telling, found the transition from the auditory to the visual equally difficult. In Western Civilization that transition stretched over centuries. Reading and writing were both developed and known in classical times and centuries before; but there was an extended period following that accomplishment during which reading or writing or both were largely unknown skills for the masses.

We don’t think much about the communication transition with which societies have been burdened, so it’s difficult to appreciate certain aspects of the world they lived in. In the days of the Old Testament, writing materials were limited. Memorization and verbal sharing were common. Consequently, imagery probably held a more significant place in verbal presentations because imagery allowed so much more to be said in fewer words. All this, of course, brings us to the Word of God which the prophet relates in today’s reading. Try listening to the text with an ear for the images used.

I will raise up the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old.

The days are coming when . . . the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed.
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.

I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits.
(Amos 9:11-15)

The richness of the image automatically filled in a lot of blanks for a people who best received messages audibly. Those of us who like poetry will easily appreciate that. The people of the prophet’s time relied on such descriptions to get the full import of the message given. Not that they were ignorant of plain language; rather there is a ‘heart’ message being given and the poetic imagery captures both intellect and emotion.

We can take one further step in elaborating on the point of this reflection. It is simple. It is undeniable. It is immensely important. Just as people of a given age or a given culture or a given experience will best understand those tidings brought to them in a ‘language’ with which they are familiar, so too, does each individual person best understand the messages of another when those messages are couched in a ‘language’ that is personally familiar. You might be surprised at how many modes of communication there are: language is obvious, but it may be spoken, read or heard. 

Besides the language of the dictionary, however, there is also the language of the arts: music, plays, songs, dance, stories, images of all sorts, etc. There is body language and social language. Then too, there is the language of nature which varies considerably from mountains to shore to plain, from desert to forest to fields, from rivers to streams to lakes and oceans. Each and every one has a language of its own that is best heard by those attuned to hear it.

God speaks to us through all of these; but He always speaks to each one of us in the language that we, personally, can best understand. For God there is no such thing as one size fits all. Every message is ‘sized’ specifically for the each one.

With what language is God speaking to you?