“Be not only hearers of the Word, but doers….who produce fruit a hundred-fold".
Fittingly, Gospel passages read at week-end liturgies during Ordinary Time often focus on Jesus as the Preacher of God’s Word, and Christ Jesus as the Word which must be heard and acted on, “if we will enter into Life.” The Word preached by Christ and his disciples derives its truth and power from its nature and origin in God. The Word of Christ embodies the mind of God for human beings. Through the Word preached to us, God Himself is reaching into our minds and hearts to draw us to Himself. We must cooperate in this drawing, in this divine movement in our souls, by heeding and obeying the Word. And that means that we must put into practice all that the LORD asks.
This much we all know, and may struggle to do. Why, we may wonder, do we resist? Why do some hear and not heed? What obstacles work in us, in one another? What is at work in you and me, keeping us from obeying the LORD wholeheartedly? Consider, for example, our recurring prayer, “Lord, have mercy on us.” We ask for mercy, and we should know, that whatever we want from God, we are committing ourselves to act on to the best of our ability. In this case, that means that we who ask for mercy and forgiveness must extend it to one another, freely as the LORD gives to us. But then, we who ask God for forgiveness, must also seek to break from whatever sin or wrong-doing we are asking forgiveness for. Otherwise, we ask for forgiveness, and then in effect mock God by not seeking to change our ways in accordance with His will. “Do you not know that God’s mercy and forgiveness are meant to lead us to repentance?” What could it mean to ask for forgiveness, and not seek to change our ways? As we probably all know from going to sacramental confession, if we confess stealing, for example, we must also make full restitution for what we have stolen, or else our confession is meaningless, the absolution voided by our failure to return what we have stolen. Would it not be absurd for me to steal your cattle, and if caught, beg for your forgiveness, but not return the cattle? If I did not return your cattle, would you consider my begging forgiveness genuine, or a verbal ruse to cover up my crime? How many of us take from the LORD, ask for forgiveness, but do not amend and make restitution for what we have done?
Hearers of the Word must act on it. Otherwise, thorns and thistles choke out the divine Word in us, as Jesus so pointedly warns. “God’s Word is living and effective, sharper than a two-edged sword.” We may seek to hide from the all-penetrating Word, as Adam tried to hide in the Garden of Eden, but it will not work. The Word will echo in our hearts, even if we try to ignore it or drown it out with another swig of booze. The Word of Christ will pursue us, even if we try our hardest to tune out to God and spend our lives watching television, or endless entertainment. Unfortunately, many in our culture have not really heard the Word, because they have avoided encountering it. But you and I have heard. We present ourselves to the LORD at the Eucharist. We listen. But do we act on it? “Be not hearers only, but doers of the Word.”
