Bible
Study: Nehemiah 8, 2 to 10. 1st Corinthians 12, 12 to 30. And Luke 1,
1 to 4 and 4, 14 to 21.
My dear
brothers and sisters, in our first reading this morning, we see a prototype of
our gathering here today. Just as Ezra stood on a wooden pulpit to read to a
gathering of both men and women, so also the word of God has been read this
morning to every one of us here WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. As St. Paul tells us in
the second reading, despite our unique differences, we all come as one body to
hear the word of God. This word of God unlike what we hear on television daily
is GOOD NEWS; news that releases us from satanic captivity, news that will opens
our eyes blinded by sin, news that frees us from political and economic
oppression, news that brings us God’s mercy and favour in life.
The word
of God is powerful and we get to experience this power when we are moved to
tears upon hearing what it contains. This is why at times, you come to church
and it is like the readings or the homily is speaking directly to you. At times,
you wonder who told the priest what is exactly happening to you. When Ezra read
the word before the people, their eyes were filled with tears. They wept
because they realised how far away they had transgressed from the ideals of God
demands. Their weeping became their healing. They cried as prisoners would cry
when released from jail. They cried as people do when they suddenly realise the
truth and it dawns on them how foolish they were in the past.
When we
hear God’s words, we are never the same persons anymore. No wonder, the book of
Hebrews says: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and
marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4, 12.
The Bible is fully alive and real; it is not just a written text, it is God
himself. As John says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.” John 1,1.
The
gathering of people in our first reading this morning were a people who had
just returned from the exile and were trying to build up the pieces of their life
again. Like these Israelites, we practically put ourselves in exile when we
stop reading the Bible. That cold feet, that discouragement we feel each time
we feel each time we pick up the Bible and push it aside as quickly as possible
is a sign of our blindness, oppression and captivity. And to rebuild our lives,
we must discover and find once again the Word of God.
Do you
want to live a truly happy and fulfilled life? Do you seek answers to life
questions that bother you a lot? Have you, like the Israelites been insulted,
abused, oppressed and denied of your rights and you feel like starting all over
again? Then, the Bible is the answer.
Note that
the Bible would not do much for you if all you do with it is to keep a copy
beside your bed or on your desk. The Bible is not an I.D card, it is not a
charm, neither is it a substitute for your pillow. The healing effect and power
of the Bible comes from the actual reading, assimilation, meditating and
practicing of the word of God. Like a meal in the freezer, unless we bring it
out and warm it by daily study, it has no effect in us. Reading the Bible
everyday will change your life forever. The Bible is so full of life that it is
IMPOSSIBLE to read it without it changing something in you.
You can
determine your future with the Bible. That is how powerful the Bible is. When Jesus
stood to read, he found the passage of Scripture by the prophet Isaiah saying: “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news
to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim
the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4, 18 to 19. These words from the Bible
eventually came to define the life of Jesus on earth. Jesus did exactly what Isaiah
wrote about. He preached, he brought about healing, he set captives free, he
restored people’s sight and proclaimed release to a humanity held bound by Satanic
oppression.
Jesus said
to the people: “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” As
we hear God’s word, it continues to be fulfilled every day in our lives. God
himself already assured us: “For as the rain and the snow come down from
heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it
bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, SO
SHALL MY WORD be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for
which I sent it.” Isaiah 55, 10 to 11.
When we
read the Bible, and live as it instructs, we not only receive healing and
abundant life, we become exactly what the Bible says about us. We can only realise
our full potentials as humans by reading the Bible. The Bible does not simply
give us unrealizable ideals. It tells us the mind of God for us, the reason why
are alive in the first place and how we ought to live so as to get the best out
of life. The whole essence of hearing God’s word is to guide our day to day
decisions in life. Our hearing must find practical application in our day to
day lives as James tells us: “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers
who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they
are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves
and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.” James 1, 22 to 24.
The reason
why we do not receive the healing, realise and recovery contained in God’s word
is because we simply amuse ourselves with what we read. We just hear it and
forget about it like people who perceive the aroma of food without actually
tasting it. We basically deceive ourselves when after attending church service
we refuse to allow God’s words penetrate our actions and decisions in life.
For instance,
St. Paul admonishes us today not to see anyone as inferior or unnecessary to us
but to accept everyone as parts of one body. But then, the moment we step out
of the church, we look at the type of car a person is driving or the type of
dress he or she is wearing, we begin to select who to talk to or who to assist
and we look at certain people as good for nothing. By so doing, we become
captives of material possession and blinded to the plights of others. We get
locked up in our small world of “me, myself and I” where it always feels as
though our problems are greater than that of anybody else. True healing will
come to us when we allow these words of our second reading touch our hearts,
when we are able to step out of our comfort zone and enter into the world of
others especially those we think are not beneficial to us. We all need each
other.
Let us
allow God’s words touch us deeply, let us approach Scriptures as living words,
let us seek God through his words and use the Bible as our ultimate guide and direction
in life. As the Psalmist says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to
my path.” Psalm 119 verse 105.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, may your word give me life and I promise never to forsake or abandon it.
Teach me to read and put your word to practice that your promises may be
fulfilled in me every day. Amen.
God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is
well with you. Happy Sunday.
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