The Power of the Word

At the end of the extended edition of The Lord of the Rings movies, there is scene where the cohort of good beings of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth goes to the black gate to speak with a satanic-like figure. Throughout the movies (and Tolkien’s books) Sauron, the satanic figure in this Middle Earth, is represented by an infernal, ever-seeing eye, “wreathed in flame”, always watching over this world. Interestingly, at the end of the movie, an evil, commander-like figure goes to the black gate without any eyes and speaks with words of deceit and malice to the just cohort of Middle Earth. Some may interpret this general-commander figure, simply, as the right-hand man of Sauron. Conversely, I’ve always interpreted him as a kind of physical embodiment of Sauron, because the eyes on this vile creature are prominently missing, thus making his appearance terrible. His voice and speech become the forefront of the encounter. The commander’s words are so tempting and credible about the fall of this fictitious world, Middle Earth, that the audience begins to despair as much as the just cohort before him. This gloom encapsulates the just men, until the good wizard, Gandalf, commands the general to keep his “foul tongue between his teeth...we will not treat with you”.

Words, whether good or evil, carry real import in our world. Literally, at the beginning of creation, “God spoke and it was” (Gen 1:3). The second person of the Trinity, the Word, “became flesh and dwelt amongst us” (John 1:14). Words, particularly of the Divine, create and re-create all creation. The words of the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation literally re-make the matter (the sins) of the penitent through the form of absolution and the sign of the cross bestowed by the priest, bringing about a soul as innocent and pure as the day of their baptism.

In today’s readings, the Pharisees are incredulous and beside themselves at their guards: “Why did you not bring him?” (John 7:45). The guards answered,“Never before has anyone spoken like this man,” (John 7:46). Jesus’ Passion is now very close. Holy Week is upon us. Man’s schemes at arresting Jesus before his Passion increase, but are utterly thwarted by the power of his words, The WORD. He, the WORD, will lay his life down on his own accord. One word of Christ is enough to bring conversion into the lives of these guards, for the Pharisees interrogate them, “Are you led astray, you also?” (John 7:47).

We ask ourselves on this Saturday: have we ever heard of lectio divina/ daily meditation/ Ignatian contemplation? Do we practice it regularly? Many saints and doctors of the Church (Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis de Sales) say this practice of mental prayer of 20-30 minutes is essential to our ability to find true happiness, to find heaven, i.e., to find holiness. Teresa of Avila says this practice is so weighty that one will “begin daily meditation and persevere to the end, or give up meditation and take up a life of mortal sin, again”. The verse before the Gospel today is: “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

The steps to meditation are simple:

1) invite God into this moment of quiet reflection with Scripture or a good spiritual book; 

2) put yourself in the scene or stop and meditate on a line/ word that moves your heart; 

3) speak to God within your mind and heart about this line that affects you, applying it to your life and personal circumstances; 

4) make a concrete resolution at the end of your prayer that you’ll try and practice in the next 24 hour period, for the time of meditation is worthless if it doesn’t change your will, your desires, and your heart. 

Teresa ends by saying, “Meditation is the infallible means to becoming a saint”. Be magnanimous; be saints; it is the only thing that matters. The French poet Charles Péguy, who was killed in a World War I battle, said, “Life holds only one tragedy, ultimately: not to have been a saint.”

Where would this world be without the likes of: St. Oscar Romero, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Paul II, St. Ignatius, St. Aloysius Gonzaga? We’d be in an even more broken world than we already have.

Today, we make a concrete resolution to begin practicing Ignatian daily meditation and not stop until the end of our days, until we’ve reached paradise.

Author: Adam Hauser, English Department, Campus Ministry Team