The word of God

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(Sunday of the Word of God)

[ Matthew 4: 12-23 ]

   Sunday of the word of God.

On the Feast of St Jerome 2019, Pope Francis [Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illis, 30 Sep 2019] instituted the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as the annual observation of the 'Sunday of the Word of God' – devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God.

Yes, the word of God (also known as the Sacred Scriptures, the Holy Bible and the Divine Revelation) is an integral and indispensable part of Christian life. It is so sacred, holy and divine that it is surpassingly more than just mere printed texts, a historical book, or a beautiful piece of literature; the word of God is our encounter with the Divine!

   The invisible Father comes to us.

St Ambrose beautifully says, "We have been given Sacred Scripture so that God and man may talk together: for we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine oracles."

Pope Leo XIII echoes, "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet His children and talks with them."

Our Father in heaven comes to us and speaks to us every time we read the word of God; and we are empowered, enlightened, encouraged and enlivened. We see ourselves, humanity and the world – not as how we would want to see them – but through the loving eyes of God. Through the word of God, we unravel God’s plan of salvation for us, and we are more receptive to God’s creative power and abiding presence in the world today.

   Jesus comes to us.

The Church teaches that Jesus is very much present to us even today: He is present to us in the word of God; He is in the Sacraments (especially the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist); He is in the Church and the gathering of the faithful; and He is also in the last, the lost, the least and the little.

Through the word of God, we meet the Person of Jesus Christ: Christ comes to us as we see and experience Him as He truly is. He is THE ONLY WAY we must follow, THE ONLY TRUTH we must believe and live, and THE ONLY ETERNAL LIFE we must desire. Only through the word of God, can we know Him more dearly, love Him more intensely, follow Him more closely, and serve Him more passionately.

   The Holy Spirit comes to us.

Even though the Sacred Scriptures are penned down by human authors, they are only the ‘secondary authors’. It is the Holy Spirit – the ‘Primary Author’ – who has inspired and guided these human authors in producing the Sacred Scriptures in the written form.

St Paul [2 Ti 3:16-17] reminds us that, “All scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed) and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

And in the letters to the Hebrews [Heb 4: 12], we are reminded that, “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

In this increasingly confused and confusing world – when the world is loud while God whispers – we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern, make truly wise decisions, and to separate ‘the wheat and the weed’ [cf. Mt 13: 24-30]. Without listening attentively to the word of God and being guided by the Holy Spirit, it is difficult – if not impossible – for us to navigate through the trials, tribulations, turbulences and temptations of life.

   The word of God is NEVER an option.

St Jerome insists, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

The reading, studying, praying, living and sharing the word of God is COMPULSORY, MANDATORY and OBLIGATORY for all Christians:

   “The Church FORCEFULLY and SPECIALLY exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by FREQUENT READING of the divine Scriptures. Let them remember, however, that PRAYER should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a DIALOGUE takes place between God and man...” [CCC 2653]

   “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.” [Lk 4: 21]

News may expire, books may be outdated, and ideas may become obsolete. But the word of God is ever alive and ever active, ever ancient and ever new – it is TRUE and APPLICABLE for all times and generations, for all peoples and cultures, and for all places and circumstances. Yes, as Jesus has told us: the word of God is like the seeds [cf. Mt 13: 1–9, 18–23] that are still sprouting and growing, silently but surely, in order to reach its complete fulfilment and fruition as we are listening to it today.

Sometimes, we need non-Christians to teach us about our Christian faith. It was a non-Christian, Mahatma Gandhi, who once said, “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.”

This Sunday of the Word of God, let us – with great passion and enthusiasm – read, study, pray, live and share the word of God.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “Lord Jesus Christ, may Your word find a home in me.”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

   [Note: This Gospel reflection was first published on Porta Fidei on 23 Jan 2022.]