Word

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Word

Written     Victory

Knowing     Disclosing     Flourishing

Fullness of the Heart

Speak

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   1 Corinthians 15: 54b, 57

Then the word that is written shall be fulfilled: Death is conquered in victory.

Where, O death is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?

Thanks be to God who leads us to victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Luke 6: 45

A good person out of the deposit of what is good in the heart produces good, but an evil person produces only what is evil: for from the fullness of the heart the mouth shares.

Reflection

Our readings show us the power of the Word of God. Saint Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians is talking about immortality and the gift of eternal life that Jesus has won for us.

To illustrate his point about the victory of Jesus over death, Saint Paul quotes a passage from the Prophet Hosea. In chapter 13 verse 14 Hosea is talking about the lack of gratitude among the people and how they have turned away from God. 

God reminds the people of the power God has over death. There are no limits that death can place on God.

Saint Paul knows that this prophecy from Hosea (who lived during the reign of King Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom from 786 to 746 BCE) was fulfilled by Jesus when He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. 

Death now has no power over us.

It has been conquered through the Paschal Mystery---the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

The Victory has been won!

It is amazing how powerful the Word of God is. Even though Hosea was writing so many years before Jesus, his words rang true in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Luke reminds us that there is this ongoing battle between good and evil. We experience this every day. 

As we read the news from far away or as we encounter people in our own communities, we see that contest play out.  If a person has good intentions and a good heart, much goodness will flow from them.

We encounter that goodness many times through the words that people speak.

Do we use our speech to affirm others?

Do we refrain from judging others in our comments?

Do we use our words to help and heal others?

We have all had the experience of suffering a loss or feeling down after hearing some difficult news. A kind word from someone can lift our spirits and gently remind us that Jesus is with us and the Victory has been won.

Speak that Victory!

1. What do you feel when you hear that Jesus has conquered sin and death?

2. Can you think of a time in your life when someone lifted your spirits with their words?

3. What do you see as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)