JOHN 1:1 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
Don’t you just love a good mystery? The word mystery in Greek is mysterion, and it means an initiation into a sacred secret. I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word secret, my ears perk up, put the word sacred in front of it and I am ready to explore.
Have you ever thought about the mystery of words? No matter what language you speak, it is composed of words. Words are meant to be spoken and speaking is our greatest gift as humans, it is truly the gift of God.
In the beginning, in Genesis 1:3, it states that God SAID, in Genesis 1:5, God CALLED, and in Genesis 1:6, again, we are told, God SAID. The point is the creation story is filled with God speaking. The words that God spoke were made up of letters, just like the words that we speak.
The letters that make up the words that cover the Earth are different for each language spoken. Each letter for every language spoken has a unique shape and sound. And when you delve into it, if speaking was used to bring forth creation, then every letter in its own way must be sacred.
SPELL CASTING
Consider for a moment the way letters build pictures in your mind.
You could say, they cast a spell. Not in an evil manner, but ordinary letters. For instance, if English is the language you speak, then when someone spells a simple word, using familiar letters like H O M E, Those letters immediately form a picture in your mind of home, whatever home looks like for you.
STAR GAZER
There is an ancient book of Jewish mysticism called Sefer Yetzirah, it is referred to as the book of creation. In it we learn that Abram, who later became Abraham, and is called the “father of our faith,” was a man who studied the stars. One night while gazing up at the vastness of the mysterious lights spread across the night sky, Abram had a life changing encounter with God.
EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER
As are most encounters with the creator of the cosmos, this one was extraordinary. It was at this time that Abram received the revelation of the 32 paths of wisdom, which consist of the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alef-Bet, as well as the 10 primary numbers. That sacred alphabet, and the 10 primary numbers, often referred to as the 10 Sefirot, are instruments of mystical power with which God spoke forth the creation, and called light into being. Because ultimately, he would be called to birth a nation, these treasures were entrusted to Abram.
The letters of the Hebrew alef-bet make up a special pictorial language. Each letter is symbolic, and each has a name, a weight, a sound, of course, and a numerical value. These are the building blocks of the cosmos. Each with a specific role. Each, themselves a
primal element of power, intelligence and wisdom, possessing the qualities and attributes of God Himself. So each of those letters, when opened up, reveals even a deeper reality than just the words themselves.
IN THE BEGINNING
The book of Genesis helps us confirm these fantastic facts of life. It is with great significance that the first verse states, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” Just before the word Heavens, we find a Hebrew word “et.” It is left untranslated as “The.” “Et” is the first and last letter of the Hebrew language. It was viewed as a synonym for the entire alphabet. In a sense it contains the secret genetic code for every form of life in the Universe.
The ancient Israelites understood this to mean that the worlds were created by the use of these letters and numbers arranged and rearranged to form words of a wholly mystical nature. The words were also the voice of God’s commands.
THE LOGOS
So, what has this to do with us you ask; all the levels of meanings and the amazing facts about God’s Word become fully realized in the person and the teachings of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who was conceived and formed in the womb of Mary, by the spoken Word of “God” to her.
That profound reality leads us to the gospel of St. John, where the very first verse states that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” That Word was the
Logos, the Divine Expression, that is Christ, that became flesh and dwelt among us. Who Himself, Hebrews 1, tells us, is upholding all things by the Word of His power.
Who is it that holds all things by the Word of His power? That of course is Jesus, the Christ. Who tells us in St. John 6:63, “…The words that I speak unto you, are spirit and are life.” What this mystery reveals to us is that the words printed on the pages of your bible are not just ordinary words, they are words, empowered by the Holy Spirit, designed, when mixed and mingled properly, to create a Divine apothecary, a spiritually anointing oil that raises up the very life of Christ in each of us.
YOU ARE INVITED
There is more to come of course, so much more to explore, in this world of words, so much bread to be broken, so much nourishment for our spiritual life and growth. So I hope you’ll consider coming back again, because, at His table, there is space for everyone, there is the pouring of new wine, and the sharing of His precious words of eternal life.
