The Power of the Word of God

01-27-2019Weekly ReflectionFr. Julius Kundi

You will all agree with me that out of all the WORDS known to humans, there is nothing more powerful than the WORD OF GOD. Even Philosophy with its unending questions can never be compared to the Word of God. Some scripture commentators even suggest that if one takes all the prominent speakers from all ages and compare what they have said to what God has said, one will discover that their words are just as a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.

There has never been an individual or group, whose words carry such power and authority than God' words. Bible study makes us understand that it was by His Word that worlds came into existence. Apart from the creative power of the Word of God, it also has the power to change lives, uplift broken hearts and spirits, soothe us in our moments of misery, instruct us on the way to righteousness and brings restoration both in health and in spirit.

By the power of the Word of God, sinners are turned into saints. Dismal lives are transformed into victorious disciples. The Word of God is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. The power of His Word is the KEY that unlocked a hardened hear and heart.

Today we celebrate and stand in awe at the faith of our ancestors in the scripture. Israelites captivity in Babylon is over but chaos, ruins of Jerusalem and lack of identity remain and stares at them straight in the face as they returned. No place to call a home and worse still no temple to worship in. Nothing seemed to go right. It took the courage of a good layman, Nehemiah who organized the people and worked with the priest Ezra to restore both the government and the religion. The ceremony in today’s reading was basically more like a Fourth-of-July kind of “Declaration of Dependence” on God. The ceremony, with special rostrums set up so that all could see and hear what God through His Word has done to them as a nation. It is clear that all the people believed and are just overcome with reverence and strong feelings when they heard the Word of God read out to them again. The power of the Word of God proclaimed restored their faith and hope. They truly believe that it is God speaking to them in the word that is read. They are totally ready to renew their covenant with the Lord. They recommitted themselves to reform their lives according to the Word of God, which one can see it being expressed in the Psalm of today:

"The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. "

St. Paul, on the other hand, reminds us that through Jesus, who is that WORD OF GOD, we have been made one with God. Today we celebrate Jesus Christ who is revealed to us as the Word of God that dwells amongst us to bring us liberation from the power of sin and Satan. Indeed, all scriptures find their fulfillment in Him.

The mission of Jesus is expressed with great force in today’s Gospel. The Spirit that had come upon him in the Jordan River was leading him to proclaim a message and a way of life to teach. God’s Spirit is sending him to the poor, directing his whole life toward those most in need, most oppressed, most humiliated. We his followers need to work in this same direction. This is the orientation that God, the incarnate Word wants to impress on human history. The last should be first in knowing a life that is more worthy, more free, more happy, the life that God wants for all His sons and daughters from now.

Therefore, let us pray today that the Word of God will move us to tears! Let us pray that we will know the strength of God’s presence in His Word read to us! Let us ask that we can know personally the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Jesus Christ! He is our Lord and our God.

Fr. Julius

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