[stephenkhoo]

THE HEALING POWER OF THE WORD THROUGH PASSIONATE PROCLAMATION AND ACTIVE LISTENING IN FAITH
SCRIPTURE READINGS: NEH 8:2-6.8-10; 1 COR 12:12-30 (OR >< 12:12-14.27); LUKE 1:1-4; 4:14-21

All the three scripture readings speak of the Power of the Word. Accordingly, we are called to focus on the power, the importance and the effectiveness of the Word of God. In a more specific way, we want to particularly see the relationship between the Word of God and healing.

Right from the outset, we must realize the power of the human word even before we can appreciate how much more wonderful is the power of the Divine Word. Words are more important than we imagine. Words can be creative. Words can set us free. Words can heal us and give us hope and direction or mislead us. Words can console, bring joy, love, assurance, and security. Words can empower us and make us feel motivated and energized. Words give meaning to our actions; otherwise, the actions will remain ambiguous. Human beings cannot do without words. We need to hear words of love and forgiveness. Words can change our lives and transform the world. Whether we are happy, sad, lonely or confused, speaking about it to a good friend can bring about healing and communion.

On the other hand, words can also destroy us. Words can destroy us and cripple us, especially harsh words, insults and curses. Words can make us prisoners of our enemies. Words can discourage and make us lose hope and confidence in ourselves. Words can demoralise us. Words can upset us and ruin our day. Hurtful words can cause us to harbour hatred and unforgiveness. That being so, we must choose our words wisely; otherwise we can destroy a person’s life and our relationship with that person. Harsh words spoken can cause resentment for years. Often when we quarrel, we use words that cause greater wounds.

However, it is not sufficient to speak good and holy words. It is important that we incarnate the words we say into flesh. Otherwise, they remain empty words. This is where we are called to be authentic. We must ensure that what we speak is what we do. This calls for a life of integrity. It calls for sincerity in words. Indeed, if words are mere empty words without actions, they can have no power to change or influence lives. It can cause more harm than good when we contradict our words by our actions. But if what we say is we do, then lives are touched and transformed. For this reason, we must get in touch with ourselves, know how we feel and who we are. The greatest mistake is to say things to flatter and please people without meaning what we say. Flattery lacks sincerity. What they say do not come from the depth of their beings, especially when they say nice things about a person. With the psalmist, we pray, “Let the thoughts of my heart,win favour in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock!”

If the human word is already so impactful, more so is the Word of God when proclaimed, heard, believed and put into practice. Today, we have Jesus the Word made flesh. In Him, speaking and acting is one. In the gospel, Jesus said, “He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.” The Word of God is meant to inspire and liberate us. As Jesus said, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.” The Word of God sets us free by proclaiming that we are loved and forgiven unconditionally as in the Old Covenant, where all debts are forgiven during the Jubilee Year. It proclaims God’s mercy and love. It therefore empowers us to live in the power of the Spirit. Indeed, Jesus tells us that if we allow the Word to abide in us, then He and the Father will make their home in us. The Word of God sets us free to be His children.

In the responsorial psalm, we are that told the Word of God is given to direct us in life. “The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple.” The Word of God gladdens the heart and guides us to walk the right path. “The precepts of the Lord are right, they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, it gives light to the eyes.” The word indeed enlightens our dull minds and gives us a new vision of life, gives hope and courage. Most of all, the Word of God leads us to the fullness of truth. “The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just.”

For this reason, if we want to seek healing from all our sins, misery and illnesses which are often the result of sins, personal or society, we must first hear the Word of God. We read that in the first reading, “Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.” The purpose of preaching is to prepare the person to have the right disposition for healing and strengthen the faith of the ministers as well. They must be taught to remove the obstacles to their sinful condition and be given faith and hope in God. Preaching is to inspire faith through understanding and conviction. Consequently, we should never attempt healing without first listening to the Word of God because healing entails more than just praying over someone but the whole process of discernment, intercession, faith and the charism of healing as St Paul mentions in the second reading.

Since healing entails a process and a team ministry, we need to exercise all the gifts that are connected with effective healing. We need the different gifts for this work of healing. St Paul underscores this when he said, “Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them?” A healing service is not dependent on the minister of healing alone but on the collaboration of all the ministries. Healing therefore is the work of the whole Body of Christ, His Church. Everyone is important in the healing service, from the usher to the choir and the healing ministers. Among all these gifts, the Word of God is paramount and indispensable.

How then should we listen? On our part, we must be attentive to the Word when it is read or proclaimed. The first reading tells us how the people listened to the Word of God attentively. They hung on to every word of God that was proclaimed. They listened with their minds and hearts. They took time to absorb the Word of God through attentive listening. They listened with reverence and faith, recognizing the Word of God as it really is. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (1 Th 1:4-5)

From listening, it led to belief. “Then Nehemiah … said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.” As a consequence, they were touched and moved and filled with joy. Belief is then expressed in worship. “Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered Amen! Amen! then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord.”

From worship, it leads to practical Christian living. Not only did they listen and believed but they put the Word of God into practice. “Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.” Indeed, to hear is to obey. Hearing of the Word leads us to extend the healing power of the Word to others. Hearing must be followed by doing, actively putting into practice what we have heard.

We must first pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and empower us. The Word has no power unless accompanied by the Spirit. It is the Spirit that gives efficacy to the Word. Hence we read that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit when He proclaimed the Word. The evangelist noted, “Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.” And this is again reiterated, “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.” Only because Jesus proclaimed the Good News in words and deeds in the Power of the Holy Spirit, that He could declare confidently, “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.”

To ensure that we speak the right words and in accordance with our lives, our entire being must be rooted in the Lord. If we are too wounded to use positive words, then at least we should remain silent. And then only after prayers, should we give a Christian response, which is to bless, not curse, forgive, not being forgiven, understand, not to be understood, love, not hate, live, not die. Only when we have listened to the Lord, will we know what to say and how to say. Only when we have heard the Lord speaking words of love and forgiveness to us, can we offer such words to others, especially our enemies.

So let us be a witness of God’s living presence in the world. We are now called to be the medium of God’s love and mercy to others both by words and actions. Let us speak words of forgiveness, of gratitude, of hope and joy. Let us speak only those words that we have heard from the Lord and not from the world. Only the Word of God can give life. As we proclaim the Word, we will build ourselves into a community of love and the Redeemed Ones of God. We will transform ourselves into a new creation both by those who hear and those who speak. Proclamation of the gospel to others also brings about our growth in faith and love for the Word. So let us keep close to Jesus, the Word of God. Let us find in Jesus our source of strength, encouragement and the light to eternal life. Most of all, let us receive the Word of Life in the Eucharist, for by listening and meditating on His Word and receiving Him sacramentally, we will receive the fullness of life.