What is this Word?

 

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, August 30th, 2022

Texts: 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16; Psalm 145:8-14; Luke 4:31-37 

What St. Luke wants us to reflect on in today’s gospel reading is the power in the words of Jesus Christ. If it were the teaching he would have presented it. It is not even the miracle but the power of the word that came out of Him. Hence, he presents the word: “Be silent and come out of him”.  

He even tells us that Jesus commanded the evil spirit, thereby placing emphasis on the power of His word. He also tells us that the people who were at the scene were amazed and said to one another, “What is this word”. The attempt is to make us reflect on the word of Jesus and see that it is powerful. So powerful that demon obeys it.  

We can neither understand the gift of the word of Christ nor appreciate it until we have God's Spirit. St. Paul makes us realise this in today’s first reading. He says, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.” 

It is the spirit of God that makes us understand the word of God and see how powerful it is. If we hear the word of God and we do not move, it is because we are unspiritual. In the words of St. Paul: “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God 

St. Paul also answers the question, “What is this word”. He answers it thus: “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.” It is the word taught by the Spirit. It is not philosophical word. St. Paul tells us it is not the product of human wisdom, but the word we receive from the Spirit. This brings to mind his words to Timothy: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2Tim. 3:16).  

St. Peter also teaches us that the words in the scriptures are taught by the Spirit: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2Pet. 1: 20-21). Jesus tells us that His words are spirit and life (John 6:63).  

St. Paul also teaches us that they imparted the Spirit through the word they receive from the Spirit. This means we receive the Spirit when we listen to the gospel and accept it. We also receive the Spirit sacramentally. During administration of sacrament the minister imparts the Spirit by pronouncing the words of Christ.  

God our Father, bestow Your grace upon us that we may understand the power in Your word, its height, depth and breadth. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke