The Effects of God’s Word on those who hear and welcome it
(Neh 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10; I Cor
12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21)
Dear friends in Christ, the focus of the Church this Sunday is on the power of the word of God in the lives of those who have received it. The three readings of today channel our attention on the importance and the power of the Word of God, and its challenge for us today.
In his Motu Proprio, Aperuit
Illis, of 30th September 2019, Pope Francis declared that the
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and
dissemination of the Word of God. (ORDO-2021-22 page 45).
Brothers and sisters, there is
power in the Word of God. The Psalm of this Sunday said, “Your words, O Lord,
are spirit and life. The letter to the Hebrews 4:12 says, “the word of
God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Psalm 119:105 says, “the
word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path.” Isaiah 55:11 says
the word of God is powerful, it accomplishes whatever it says. It was through
the power of His Word that God created the universe and all that live in it. This
powerful Word calmed the storms of the sea, healed the sick, gave sight to the
blind, made the lame to walk, and raised the dead.
Due to the power imbedded in the Word
of God, whenever and wherever it is preached, something new begins to take
place in the lives of those who accepted it. It evokes, triggers, elicits,
provokes, fires up, arouses, or calls forth a sentiment of change, of metanoia,
and of renewal in whoever receives it. So, today, we are challenged to assess
the result the word of God we have been hearing has made in us. Has it led us
to positive change in our lives? Has it led you to make a fresh beginning?
The church wants to open to us
what the word of God does in whoever listens to it and whoever receives it. The
Word of God challenges always its hearers to turn to new creatures. We saw this
in the readings of today.
In the first reading of today
from the book of Nehemiah, after the return from exile, the rebuilding of the
Temple and the restoration the city, Ezra led the people in a “Covenant
renewal” ceremony. In that ceremony, Ezra read and interpreted the Word of God
to the Jews gathered before the Water Gate. The hearing of the word of God
provoked the audience of Ezra to a sober feeling; it aroused them to repentance
and renewal of life. The reason for such reaction was because the audience of
Ezra listened to the Word, accepted it and allowed it to touch their hearts,
leading them to a change.
Dear friends, what happened to
the people gathered before Ezra is the sentiments the word of God should arouse
in the life of every Christian who hears it. So, the audience of Ezra
challenges us to always listen attentively to the Word of God, accept it and
allow it to change us for good.
The gospel of today gives us a
deeper insight into the power and mission of the Word of God among us. The
gospel of John 1:14 told us that the Word took flesh and dwelt among us. In
today’s gospel, that Word announced to us His mission among those who would
listen to Him and accept Him. It will bring freedom to those who are captives,
enlightenment to the ignorant, sight to the blind, liberty to the oppressed,
and announce the beginning of the year of favour to all hearts that welcome it.
The mission and ministry of Jesus, the Word of God, is to give liberation to
everyone who will listen to his “Good News,” accept it and put it into
practice. Dear friends, we have a lot to gain if we allow this Word of God to
influence our lives and our choices.
The second reading of today,
then, outlines the mission of those who have been animated by the word of God. In
this reading taken from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul reminds
us that “together we are Christ’s Body, but each of us is a different part of
it.” This suggests that, as different parts of Christ’s Body, who have
been animated by His word, each of us has a share, as instruments in God’s
hands, in bringing to fulfilment the freeing and saving mission of Christ in
others and to our world. So, as Christians who hear the word of God every day,
we are challenged to give freedom and liberty to those who are being held
captive by sin, by social problems and by financial problems; we are challenged
to illumine the lives of those who have been deceived by wrong doctrines and
teachings, we are to teach them by our words and good behaviours; we are
challenged to bring unity, peace and love to all families, groups, and
communities.
The word of God must arouse a
change in any community whose citizens have accepted it and put it into
practice. Such a community will start reflecting the perfect community of the
body of Christ. It will start flourishing in unity, peace, charity, and love.
Suffice it to say that the presence of divisions, chaos, hatred, rancour and
enmity in communities, families and groups is an indication that the Christians
living in those places are yet to accept the good news of Christ.
Dear friends in Christ, let us
accept this challenge of listening to the Word, of accepting it into our hearts
and, then, putting it into practice in our lives and our choices. Psalm 95:7-8
tells us not to harden our hearts to this Word of God we have heard today.
Peace be with you. Happy Sunday
to you.
Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima
#3rdSundayYearC #ThePowerOfTheWord
#EffectsOfGod’sWordOnThoseWhoHearAndWelcomeIt #IsaacChima #ChimaIsaacChinemerem
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