Francis Gayang csc –
Readings: Gal 3:22-29; Lk 11: 27-28
Have you ever felt motivated and energized by the positive words that come from the mouth of people about you? Definitely, we all do. If human words can have such an impact on our lives what about the words of God? Keeping the word of God is life. The one who keeps the word of God is more than a double-edged sword (Hebrew 4:12); that person is blessed (Lk 11:28).
Jesus emphasizes the significance of hearing and keeping God’s word by connecting it to his biological relationship, saying “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” (Lk 8:21). We need the word of God because people “can’t live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Lk 4:4).
The word of God challenges us and calls us for conversion that needed to be manifested in action. Listening to the word of God is not an entertaining activity. Jesus emphasizes the significance of keeping it. By pronouncing blessedness on those who listen and keep it, it conveys the word of ‘woe’ to those who take the word of God for granted.
The world today needs a radical witness of Christ, who imitate Christ in action. The word today looks for action. So, the competence to see does not complete the will of God without the courage to act (Holy Cross Constitutions 14). We pray that the admiration we have for the word of God may be accomplished by corresponding actions. May we seriously take the necessary steps in listening to the Word of God and try to bring changes that build our relationship with Jesus, so that we may be numbered as blessed ones of God.