Let the Word Dwell in Us Richly

Tonight I have to risk sounding like a Holy Roller. I don’t think this will hurt anyone.

Someone asked me recently how I can write and speak almost daily about civil rights violations and social inequities and I said that there are words inside me stronger than the ones I give away. Mahatma Gandhi called this principle “swaraj” –its a prayerful and yet intellectual strength. 

Colossians 3:16, ”Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another. . . .”

What does the word “richly” meaning this instance. And how does a word “dwell”? 

Words dwell in us when they are like living beings inside a house.

Good words are inside. And like good householders those words look after their neighbors, children,animals–the term best suited to this is lovingkindness and it denotes love without expectation.

Words dwell inside us richly when we are living the richest life of all which is a life of service to others.

I’ve been in mind of this passage a great deal lately. The news on the radio is distressing and walking around one can feel the palpable economic fear     from friends and acquaintances. People are saying “How will we live, what will we do?”

When words dwell in us richly the substance of what surrounds us is of less importance. We’re concentrating. Something more powerful than the TV news is going on inside us. We’re giving away parts of ourselves and there’s no I.O.U.

The more you give away the more you have. Lovingkindness works that way.

Ephesians 3:17, ”That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. …”

S.K.

Author: stevekuusisto

Poet, Essayist, Blogger, Journalist, Memoirist, Disability Rights Advocate, Public Speaker, Professor, Syracuse University View all posts by stevekuusisto