GOD'S POWERFUL WORD

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom

St. John was known for his eloquence. He was known for the power of his words. Chrysostom in Greek means “golden tongue.” This quotation from his writings reveal to us the origin of his powerful words: “I have his promise; I am surely not going to rely on my own strength? I have what he has written: that is my staff, my security, my peaceful harbor.” St. John was referring to God’s word.

The power of St. John’s word is rooted in the power of God’s word. He knew the power of God’s word and knew how to share it with those entrusted to him. His words were powerful because they were empowered by God’s word. His words wielded power because they were echoes of God’s.

Do we believe in the power of God’s word?
How important is His word for us?
Have you experienced its power?

Choose to listen

We hear a lot of things everyday. First thing in the morning alarm wakes us up. If we turn on the t.v. we hear Unang Hirit or Umagang Kay Ganda [depends whether you are a Kapuso or a Kapamilya]. On the way to work or to school, we hear the radio. At work we hear bosses. In school we hear teachers. At recess we hear classmates and friends. Over lunch we hear officemates. From earphones we hear R'nB, rock, ballad, pop, bossa, classical. From the cellfone we hear ringtones and message alerts. We hear rumors. We hear fights. We hear sweet nothings. We hear words. We hear the world. We hear.

Ask someone towards the end of the day, what he or she heard that day, I'm pretty sure no one can enumerate everything one heard. Some, but not everything. Ears hear everything that comes its way, but the heart does not listen to everything. We may hear everything, but we do not listen to all. We choose what we want to listen to.

The world makes sure that we listen to it by bombarding us with advertisements, with invitations to go here or there, to buy this or that, to take this or that, to do this or that, to use this or that; voices that are so attractive, exciting, and interesting that it seemed impossible not to listen. But in reality we can choose what we want to listen to.

The word of God oftentimes is presented to us in an ordinary and simple way, particularly in the Liturgy of the Word, sometimes at the edge of boredom. But we choose to listen to the word of God not because it is exciting, or exuberant, or attractive. No. We choose to listen to the word of God because it is life-giving, because it is the nourishment that we cannot do without.

The world demands to be heard by over-the-top packaging. The Word demands hearing by significance. The words of the world may be exciting but the word of the Lord is life-giving. The word of the world may be attractive but the word of the Lord is effective. The word of the world may be intoxicating but the word of the Lord is inspiring. In the midst of so much distractions may we discover in the simplicity of God's word the strength to choose to listen to it.