“Receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God.” This is the “Alleluia Verse” for today’s Mass. And it is a very important statement. It means that we are to receive the word of God – with the ears of faith; not with the worldly ears which are only listening for what they want to hear – as worldly ears do on a regular basis.
In the gospel passage, Jesus speaks with authority and at least for the time being – the hearers can tell the difference. When the authoritative voice of supernatural origin speaks, even the earth-bound ear can recognize it is as something different from what it is used to hearing. But, whether the human hearer can fully apply faith to what he is hearing and thus understand the words completely is quite another story.
This was Jesus’ challenge from the very beginning: to get people to hear his words as words from God, not as common ordinary everyday words. And it is true: when we listen with faith: everything sounds different – it sounds clear – it sounds believable – it sounds trustworthy – it sounds right!
In the first reading today, Hannah prays to the Lord, using words full of faith, and hope and trust. On the supernatural level she implores the Lord to give her a child; and on the supernatural level the Lord hears her prayer – and he grants her request. Any qualitative difference in her heartfelt prayer probably would have meant that she would not get a child.
Jesus tells us to ask on the supernatural level of faith for what God the Father wants for our lives – and we shall surely get it on the supernatural level – this is all about getting and keeping our perspectives straight. By our baptism we are new creations, therefore, everything about our lives have as their gravitational center – faith in Jesus, faith in his Father, and trust that the Holy Spirit will accomplish with, in and through us, what God has in mind!
And so, today, let us receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God! – and let us help others to understand and use this amazing perspective!
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