The Spoken Word

The Spoken Word

Read: Luke 7:36-50

“Simon, I have something to tell you.”

Luke 7:40

“The words of God which you receive by your ear, hold fast in your heart. For the Word of God is the food of the soul.”

—St. Gregory I

IN WORD The King of the universe, the One by whom all things were created, has singled out a man—a simple, somewhat pretentious man—to whom to impart some eternal truth. What a privilege! A spoken word, straight from the mouth of God incarnate and into the ear of a lowly, corrupt human. What will Simon do with such a treasure? How will the divine revelation—in his own home, nonetheless— forever change his life?

Scripture doesn’t tell us the rest of Simon’s story, unfortunately. As with so many others Jesus encountered, we’re left to wonder what happened in the end. What did Simon do with this eternal word?

The question points us to another aspect of revelation. Not only is it an awesome privilege to receive it; it is also an awesome responsibility. Woe to the one who hears divine counsel and does not respond appropriately. Did Simon? We don’t know. The issue is left hanging—just as it is with us.

IN DEED Have we also heard the eternal voice of our Savior? Has the divine counsel come down to us as well? Of course it has. It has been put on printed pages and been more widely distributed than any other collection of words in the history of the world. For those who believe, it is also accompanied by the witness of the Holy Spirit. But we may nevertheless read this revelation as casually as Simon might have heard it.

We must constantly remind ourselves: What a privilege! We must also remind ourselves: What a responsibility! An eternal treasure has been given to us. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, has pulled us aside, as He did Simon, and whispered: “I have something to tell you.” Only one response is appropriate: grateful, worshipful obedience.

Jesus has a word for us. He has spoken. Has that really sunk in? Let it! Whatever He has said, He has trusted you with it. Worship and obey.