The Word of Life

Jan 214 min read

The Word of God: creation, holy texts and the person of Jesus, inspires and guides us how to live rightly and hopefully, comforts and challenges, and brings life and joy to the people. Indeed, more to be desired is the Word than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Third Sunday after Epiphany. Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; and Luke 4:14-21.)

You may wish to read what I wrote three years ago on these texts.

This week we have two powerful descriptions of the Word of God being read in public gatherings and the response of the people. Both descriptions have a movie director’s eye for detail and paint electrifying images of the Word of God moving people to excitement, mourning, hope and celebration – moving people to life and renewal!

And both written accounts have details that should intrigue and encourage us. In the account of Nehemiah the governor and Esra the priest reading the scrolls that the people had not heard for a long time, had forgotten about, the people are so deeply moved that they wept. But Nehemiah and Esra cut short the people’s mourning and shame and reminds them “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” There is a wonderful sense of renewal and revival that the reading of the Word stirs up in the people. The challenge of the word is not to cut people off but to invite them into collective joy and celebration – into life.

And in Luke’s account of Jesus reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah it is very noteworthy which portions Jesus does not read out (hint - the bits about the day of vengence). There is in the portions that Jesus reads an emphasis on the life-giving nature of the Spirit upon and through the anointed one. And Jesus, we are told, claims this for himself. To which their initial response is one of approval. But then Jesus unpacks the implications in a challenging way by pointing out the lack of faithfulness of their ancestors and this stirs up rage. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. For now we pause with the words of compassion and promise of renewal and restoration.

In a world where words of easy comfort, cruel ridicule, indifference and outright lies of convenience and denial, vengeance and vacuous hope, the Word of God which comes to us in Scripture, creation and the person of Jesus brings compassion and encouragement, renewal and rejoicing, and challenging instruction and guidance.

There are times when we all need words of compassion and encouragement in the face of personal or shared suffering and disillusion. The Word of God still can speak to us across the divides of time and historic events and can call us to awake to hope and the tenderness of being remembered and included. And when we remember, when we are remembered, after a time of forgetting then we should eat the fat and drink sweet wine, and share with those who have not yet heard their names remembered among the blessed. Let there be celebrating even though we still have reasons to lament and mourn.

The Word of God is most certainly a guide to how to live rightly as individuals and as community. And while Scripture is full of rules and guidelines that can sometimes seem to rob us of joy and self-direction there is a trajectory in Scripture that is towards life abundant and communal, towards living and sharing in ways that enhance all lives, and protects and honours the vulnerable. And in both of our examples this week we see that the rediscovery or the uncovering of the text in its rightful context brings renewal. Renewal in church circles has come to often mean a time of mission hopefully leading to more church members. An increase in members can be a wonderful sign of growth and relevance in the community but is not necessarily the same thing as renewal. So often it is the ones who are long term members of the church who need renewal. Many of us are deeply tired and weary in spirit and imagination. We need the fresh air of the Spirit and a flush of hope and encouragement so that we can celebrate all we know to be true and share the life-giving heart of our faith with those in need.

And in Jesus, the fullest expression of God, the Word made flesh, the Words of God focus on healing and renewal, life and liberty, rather than on vengeance or punishment. Not without challenge, as we shall see next week, but focusing on healing and justice. And yes, the Word brings challenge in its demands and guidance.

So let us all rest in the compassion and generosity of the Word of God and celebrate the life-giving Spirit that moves through creation, text and the person of our Lord. Let our life and love and faith be renewed and revived.