Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook and Instagram.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071226.cfm
Words are powerful.
Say, “I love you,” and hearts open.
Say, “I hate you,” and hearts break.
Shout, “Fire!” and a crowd scatters.
Say, “I do,” and two lives become one.
If our words have power, imagine the power of God’s Word.
In the Book of Genesis, God simply speaks:
“Let there be light”—and there is light.
But the greatest Word God ever spoke is not just a sound—it is a person: Jesus, the Word made flesh.
In the opening of John’s Gospel, we hear:
“In the beginning was the Word… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Jesus, the Word of God, spoke many words during His life—words that had real power.
He spoke to a dead girl, and she rose to life.
He spoke to the storm, and it became calm.
He spoke to a sinner, “Your sins are forgiven,” and they were.
And on the night before He died, He took bread and said, “This is my Body.”
He took the cup and said, “This is my Blood.”
Those words still have power today. Every time the priest repeats them at Mass, Jesus acts. His Word still does what it says.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a sower scattering seed everywhere. The seed is the Word of God.
Some seed falls on rocky ground—it doesn’t last.
Some falls among thorns—it gets choked.
Some falls on hard ground—it never takes root.
And some falls on good soil—and it bears great fruit.
The truth is that we are all a mix of these soils.
At times, we are shallow, and God’s Word doesn’t go very deep.
At times, we are distracted, and other things crowd it out.
At times, our hearts are hardened, and the Word can’t get in at all.
But there is also a part of us that is open—good soil—ready to receive what God wants to plant.
And when His Word truly takes root in us, it changes us.
When we hear God say, “I love you,” and we respond, “I love you too,” something new begins. We become the people God created us to be.
But God never forces His Word on us. He offers it. We must choose to receive it.
That’s the difference between the first creation—where God simply spoke—and this new creation He wants to bring about in us. This time, our response matters.
So where do we hear this Word?
We hear it in Sacred Scripture—at Mass, and whenever we open the Bible at home.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us:
“My word shall not return to me empty but shall accomplish my will.”
God sends His Word for a reason—to draw us back to Him.
May we listen.
May we receive it.
And may we follow where it leads.
Have a blessed week, everyone.
