Let the Word of Christ Dwell in you

The word of Christ dwells in us when it finds a place in our hearts



Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, September 10th, 2022
Texts: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; Psalm 116: 12-13.17-1 8; Luke 6:43-49

We are invited today to be rooted in Christ’s word. Today’s gospel reading brings to mind the words of St Paul: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16). What marks us out as Christians is the word of Christ that dwell in us richly. The proof of the indwelling of Christ's word is not the ability to quote the word. It is neither the ability to recite it nor memorise it. The word dwells in us when it finds a place in our hearts, not in our brain or head.

When the word of Christ finds a place in our hearts, it bears its fruits. Hence, Jesus says, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Man produces the content of his heart in his action and words. If the word of Christ dwells in his heart, he produces the word in his action.

We do what we say

It is when the word of Christ dwells in our hearts that the word materialises in action. We do what we say. When we call Him Lord, we will listen to what He tells us. We will not be among those Jesus accuses today. He says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord, ’ and not do what I tell you?”

The test of the indwelling of Christ’s word is standing firm in time of trials. This is clear in the words of Jesus thus: “Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them

When we do not have Christ’s word in our hearts, we lose confidence and become unstable. Jesus Christ puts it thus: “But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

The absence of Christ’s word breeds infidelity. Hence, we come to know the problem of the Corinthians. The Corinthians were yet to give place to Christ’s word. Their infidelity resulted from the absence of Christ’s word in their hearts.

Lord Jesus Christ, we give You thanks for the gift of Your word, grant that we may give it a place in our hearts to dwell. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke