The Eternal Word Beyond All Creation

The Incomprehensible Word of God

1. The beginning of John's Gospel declares, "In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1). This is what John saw, and transcending the entire creation—mountains, air, the heavens, the stars, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, all Angels and Archangels—he saw the Word in the beginning, and drank it in.

He saw beyond every creature and drank from the Lord's breast. For this same John the Evangelist was the one whom Jesus especially loved, so much that he reclined on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper. There was this intimate secret, that from there might be drawn in what would later be poured forth in the Gospel. Blessed are those who hear and understand. The next level of blessedness belongs to those who, though they don't understand, still believe. For who can explain in human words how great this Word of God is?

2. Lift up your hearts, my brothers and sisters, lift them up as best you can. Whatever image comes to your mind of any physical object whatsoever, reject it. If you think of the Word of God as resembling the light of this sun, expand and extend that image as much as you will, set no boundaries to that light in your thoughts—it still falls infinitely short of the Word of God. Whatever the mind conceives of this kind is always less in one part than in the whole. But of the Word, understand it as wholly present everywhere.

Do you understand what I'm saying? Because of time constraints, I'm limiting myself as much as possible for your benefit. Consider this: the light from heaven, which we call the sun, when it rises, illuminates the earth, unfolds the day, reveals forms, and distinguishes colors. It's a great blessing, a great gift of God to all mortal people. Let God's works magnify Him. If the sun is so beautiful, how much more beautiful is the sun's Maker?

Yet notice, brothers and sisters: the sun sends its rays throughout the whole earth. It penetrates open spaces, but closed places block it. It sends light through windows, but can it shine through a wall? To the Word of God, everything is open; from the Word of God, nothing is hidden.

Observe another difference that shows how far the creature is from the Creator, especially physical creatures. When the sun is in the east, it isn't in the west. Its light from that vast body reaches even to the west, but the sun itself isn't there. When it sets, then it will be there. When it rises, it's in the east; when it sets, it's in the west. Through these movements, it has given names to those directions. Because it's in the east when it rises, that direction is called the Rising Sun; because it's in the west when it sets, that direction is called the Setting Sun. At night it isn't seen anywhere.

Is the Word of God like this? When it's in the east, is it absent from the west? Or when it's in the west, is it absent from the east? Does it ever leave the earth or go under or behind it? No, it is wholly present everywhere. Who can explain this in words? Who can see it clearly?

By what proof can I demonstrate what I'm saying? I'm speaking as a human to humans. I'm speaking as one who is weak to those who are weaker. And yet, my brothers and sisters, I dare say that in some manner I can see what I'm trying to explain to you. Though "through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12), I do somehow understand within my heart a concept of this reality. But when it seeks to go forth to you, it finds no suitable vehicle. The vehicle of thought is the sound of the voice. What I'm perceiving within myself, I'm trying to convey to you, but words fail. For I wish to speak of the Word of God. How magnificent is this Word, what kind of Word is it? "All things were made through Him" (John 1:3). Look at the works, and stand in awe of the Worker. "All things were made through Him."

3. Let's return to our human limitations and try to understand human things if we can. I who speak am human, and I speak to humans. I produce the sound of my voice and convey it to your ears. Through the sound of my voice, I somehow place understanding in your hearts. Let's discuss this as best we can, and try to grasp it. But if we cannot even fully comprehend this ordinary process, how much less can we comprehend the divine Word?

Look, you're listening to me now. I'm speaking a word. If someone leaves this gathering and is asked outside what's happening here, they would answer, "The bishop is speaking a word." I am speaking a word about the Word. But what kind of word am I speaking about what kind of Word? A mortal word about the immortal Word; a changeable word about the unchangeable Word; a passing word about the eternal Word.

Nevertheless, consider my word. I've already told you that the Word of God is wholly present everywhere. Now, I'm speaking a word to you. What I say reaches all of you. When what I'm saying comes to all of you, do you divide what I say among yourselves? If I were feeding you—seeking to fill not your minds but your bodies—and set loaves of bread before you to satisfy your hunger, wouldn't you have to divide my loaves among you? Could my loaves come to every one of you? If they came to only one person, the rest would have none.

But look at what's happening now. I'm speaking, and all of you receive what I say. Not only do all receive it, but each person receives it whole. It comes whole to everyone, and to each person whole. How marvelous is my word! What then is the Word of God?

Consider this: I have spoken, and what I've spoken has gone forth to you but hasn't left me. It has reached you yet hasn't separated from me. Before I spoke, I had the thought, but you didn't. When I spoke, you began to have the thought, and I lost nothing. How marvelous is my word! What then is the Word of God?

From small things, form ideas of great things. Consider earthly things, and then praise the heavenly. I am a creature, you are creatures, and such great wonders are performed through my word—in my heart, in my mouth, in my voice, in your ears, in your hearts. What then must the Creator be like?

O Lord, hear us. Make us anew, for you have made us. Make us good, for you have made us enlightened people. These newly baptized ones in white robes hear your word through me. Illuminated by your grace, they stand before you. "This is the day the Lord has made" (Psalm 118:24). May they continue to strive, may they pray for this: that when these days have passed, they may not become darkness, those who have been made light through the wonders and blessings of God.