Looking for the right words

Looking for the right words
 
The two readings today present diverse visions of Rome (as "Babylon the Great" in the book of Revelation 18) and Jerusalem (as a place "laid desolate" in Luke 21:20-28). These images of two great cities in times of crisis and destruction remind me of the struggle, throughout history, to find the language that can help to give expression to events that aroused confusion, dismay and even despair.
 
This historical struggle comes to mind in the light of a recent announcement by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) a couple of days ago. Each year for the past few decades, OED has announced the word of the year. For the first time this year, OED has failed to come up with one significant and widely-used word for 2020. Instead they have announced the "words of an unprecedented year".
 
The efforts to give expression to the experiences of this year have given rise to an unprecedented number of words. Some relate to the experience of COVID 19 - "lockdown" and "social distancing" - and others relate to the political turmoil, particularly in the US - "Black Lives Matter", etc.
 
Let us pray that we can equitably distribute vaccine for COVID 19 and find relief from the worldwide political turmoil and also find the need for fewer words as we recover a real sense of peace in mind and spirit.
 
Tom Rouse