Hebrew Scriptures show belief in the authentic power of God’s word. The writer of Genesis, for example, sees the universe coming into existence with God’s spoken word: “Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3 ff). From darkness, confusion, and chaos, God draws the harmonious, well-ordered cosmos.
During the writing retreat, I told students that one of the rewards of writing is to bring order, meaning, and light into the chaos and confusions of our life experiences. The same can be said a hundredfold for lives lived according to God’s word, especially the Word of God that is Jesus.
God’s creative words continued through prophets such as Isaiah: “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it” (55:10-11).
Psalm 119:105 celebrates the enlightenment God’s word brings with, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.”
Saint Paul sees the word active at work in the faithful (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and the Word speeds forward and is glorified in them (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
Jesus, above all, has shown us the power of words. With no more than his spoken word, he returned life to the human body (“Your son is alive and well,” John 4:43-54); he taught with authority (“…he spoke with authority,” Luke 4:32); he healed (“Be clean,” Matthew 8:1-4); he forgave (“Child, your sins are forgiven,” Mark 2:5); he instituted the great mystery of his presence to us in the Eucharist (“…do this in memory of me,” Luke 22:19).
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus gives us wonderful words that inspire and reassure us. “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12); “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5); “Let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16); “I have come so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
by Kate Ristow
