The word of the Lord
June 1, 2023 - Thursday, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
Psalm 33:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
We all know the power of words. In August 1945 Harry Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs and so it happened. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the dogma of Mary’s assumption with body and soul to heaven and so we believe. On June 8, 1966, during my baptism I was named, Peter Christopher and that is how I am known. Our words can make or destroy, decree or nullify something. How about God’s word?
In the Book of Genesis, we read that God brought the universe into existence by utterance. God’s word is so powerful that it brings to existence what He utters: light, sky, land and plants, sun, moon, and stars, fish and birds, land animals and humans (see Gen 1). So, let us reflect a bit about God’s word today by which, as the psalmist says, “the heavens were made”.
The Hebrew word used here is “dabar” which can mean word, speech, command or thing. In this case, it is often translated as a “decree”. God is presented as a sovereign ruler who orders creation into being. In this case, we see the difference between our words and God’s word. Although the decrees of our leaders, kings, presidents, or prime ministers carry a lot of weight, they cannot bring into existence something out of nothing. Moreover, God can easily nullify the decrees of our leaders.
The Hebrew word “dabar” was translated into Greek as “logos”. And so we read in the Ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament that by the “logos” of the Lord the heavens were made (see Ps 33:6). But, the word “logos” plays an important role in the New Testament. As we read in the Gospel of John, “the logos” was at the beginning, “the logos” was God, and “the logos” became flesh (see John 1:1, 14). In this case, “the logos” refers to the preexisting Word of God through whom and for whom everything was made (see Col 1:15-16). This preexisting Word of God became flesh and we know him as Jesus Christ.
Approaching the phrase the “word of God” from the Christian perspective can also help us understand the statement of the psalmist that “upright is the word of the Lord” (Ps 33:4). Through Jesus Christ, God spoke to us about His love and faithful care for humanity and the entire creation.