Power of the Word!

John 1:1-14

IN THE beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2He was present originally with God. 3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

Food for thought!

Today, we are going to do something we rarely do; we are going to make a journey into the beginning, our beginning. I want you to go into your beginning. And by beginning I mean your beginning as a person, beginning as a family, beginning as a professional. What do you find there? In the beginning of everything, there is a word. In other words, in the beginning of your relationship with your spouse, there was a I love you! At the beginning of most jobs there is a word in the form of interview. Even, at the heart of broken and destroyed families, there are always (bad) words. Words can save us or fail us; words can ruin families. Words can build or destroy lives, families and entire people.

Proverbs 16:24 says “Pleasant words are as an honey comb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.” This is true. For example when you are downhearted and discouraged and a friend gives you a word of encouragement or you hear good news, you immediately become revived and refreshed. Once the word enters your spirit, you receive a new urge and strength to go on and not to give up. In the same way a hurtful and bitter word released from a person, aimed directly at you or someone you love can break you down, wound your spirit and even cause you to have a bad day.

The same with God. 

In Genesis, God “speaks” the universe into existence: “Let there be light…. Let there be a firmament.” Each verse of the entire first chapter of Genesis begins with the notable exclamation, “Let there be….” With a similar potency begins the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the word.”

The Letter to the Hebrews (today’s Second Reading) says, In many separate revelations  and in different ways God spoke of old to our forefathers in and by the prophets, But in the last of these days He has spoken to us in the person of a Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].

And in the Gospel Reading to today, we read: In the beginning of everything there was a word; before anything there was a word. God made everything by his word ; without his word nothing came and comes to be.

At the beginning of anything, there is a word or words. Nothing get started except by words. Our words reveal who we truly are. Our words are us. The word-spirits we release may result in either life or death to us and our hearers. When we study the life of Jesus, there was no place where Jesus made a statement and said “Oh do not worry about what I just said. I was only joking”. No, every word that proceeded out from Jesus’ mouth was for a reason and purpose. When the Holy Spirit first descended on the disciples in the upper room, He first touched the disciples’ tongues; He gave them tongues of fire, and made them speak words (Acts 2).

We too have the power of words. There is a seven-word combination that has affected many people. You can try it too; it has power to erase failure, increase strength, eliminate fear, and overcome self-doubt.  That seven-word formula is this: I can do all things through God. Remember, if you tell yourself words like, I am nothing, I am poor, I can’t do this, I am miserable.... The chances are that you will be what you say; if you say to yourself words like these seven words,  I can do all things through God, there is hardly anything you can’t do.

Jesus said:

 If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (Mt 18:19); If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. (Mt 6:14); If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven (Jn 20:23). All this means that our words works. I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for--believe that you have received them, and you will have them. (Mk 11:24).