Word of the year candidates for 2024 included “Polarization”—Merriam-Webster’s choice. Dictionary.com opted for “demure.”

They both had their reasons. My personal choice would be “comeback,” recognizing the remarkable reemergence of a political “has been” and his party winning both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

So stunning was the Trump “comeback” that Time Magazine honored him a second time as their “Person of the Year.” Sam Jacobs, Time’s editor in chief appeared on NBC’s “Today” show with the announcement. He offered a back-handed form of praise saying that Donald Trump,

“for better or for worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.”

He added,

“This is someone who made an historic comeback, who reshaped the American presidency, and who’s reordering American politics,”

But as the year would come to an end, another candidate emerged who heavily influenced the news cycle: Luigi Mangione. He is the charged assassin of Bryan Thompson—the now deceased CEO of UnitedHealthcare.

The shooting of Thompson has alerted us to the many callous hearts that live within our borders.

Some of them host talk shows. Jimmy Kimmel went “cool” with his descriptions of Mangione as “Time‘s sexiest alleged murderer of the year.” Adding a bit more spice, Kimmel added the shooter was “the hottest cold-blooded killer in America.” He also posted this message:

“I would visit him in prison and bake him cookies maybe.”

This is the same guy who cries on television while sharing his own personal tales of woe.

Perhaps if the dictionary folks were to choose THREE words of the year, they would opt for: Deny. Defend. Depose.

Those were purportedly the ones written by Luigi Mangione on the ammunition he used in killing Thompson. They’re quite similar to another phrase—“delay, deny, defend.” That happens to be how some attorneys describe the way insurers deny services and payment.

It also happens to be the title of a book that was highly critical of the industry published in 2010.

But there is no denying that the three words of the handsome 26-year-old Mangione have made him a merchandising star. According to the Washington Post, those words found on the ammunition (Deny. Defend. Depose) “have appeared on shopping sites including Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Temu.”

You can also find mugs, hats, and holiday sweaters for sale online

There are some things this Christmas season that you should quickly dispose of. That would include any movie tickets to the film Dear Santa. The Paramount release tells the story of a boy named Liam who tries to send his Christmas wish list to Santa. He mistakenly mails it to the devil played in the film by Jack Black. Liam misspelled Santa’s name so a “Dear Satan” letter comes to Black who tells Liam, “You lucked out big time because I’m way better than Santa.”

He then offers to grant three wishes before taking the boy’s soul. How….Christmassy.

Deny your children the chance to see this film while defending your parental rights.

Next we should note the name Alex Consani. Alex recently made history—again having been named Model of the Year at the British Fashion Council’s 2024 Fashion Awards! In her acceptance speech, Alex boasted,

“I’m the first trans woman to win this award! But I can’t accept this award without thanking those who came before me.”

He/She also thanked her parents for supporting her and encouraged other parents of trans kids to support them. She received “roaring applause” when ending with, “Change is more than possible; it’s needed.”

Yes. Change is needed. As a society, we must commit to deny awards as “fashion models” to people with gender confusion. We must defend the rights of those who compete fairly in sports and pageants and the like. And we must depose people in judicial roles who advocate otherwise.

Jesus says in His Sermon on the Mount,

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

The Greek word for righteousness is Dikaiosune. It means living in right relationship with God, other people, and all creation. When we live justly, honestly, and faithfully according to God’s instruction we live righteously.

Righteousness. It just might need to be our word of the year for 2025.