Homily 479 | 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Year B
“The Word of God came to Jonah…” What do you think of when you hear the phrase “Word of God?” Many of us would probably think of the Bible as being the Word of God. That’s true, but it’s not the whole truth. The Bible did not come to Jonah, but the Word of God did.
“In the beginning was the Word,” says St. John at the beginning of his gospel. This is the same Word that was spoken at the beginning of the world as we read in the book of Genesis. “And God said, let there be light… and there was light.” Indeed all of creation was made through the Word of God. His word is so powerful that he speaks and things come to be. God says it, and it happens.
This powerful Word came to Jonah and worked through him to convert all of Nineveh, even against the wishes of Jonah. The Word became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and then spoke in today’s gospel to the apostles. “Come, follow me,” and then came. The left everything and they followed. The Word of God is powerful!
If today’s world often appears to lack the dynamic presence of the power of God, it seems that this is due to two reasons. First, we do not embrace the gift of Holy Scripture with love. We do not devote enough time (if any at all) to study and prayer with the Sacred Page. Secondly, we do not share this word with others, as Jonah tried to avoid sharing the word. We are afraid to speak the Word ourselves as the true prophets we are called to be by our baptism.
God wants to use you, like he used Jonah, to spread the word. Will you say yes like the apostles? Or will you run away like Jonah? If you let God work through you, He will be powerful in spite of any perceived weakness on your part. This is because it is not your own power you share. “The Word of God is living and effective.” There is power in the Word.