When God Speaks: Rediscovering the Sacred Power of Communication

 

Rediscovering the sacred power of communication: When God spoke, everything came into being!

By Sr. Charito A. Quinones, OP

Have you ever wondered why our words have the power to build or destroy lives?

The ability to communicate with words is God’s special gift to human beings. Being able to express one’s feelings and thoughts effectively gives us the deep satisfaction of being understood. 

Today, with the rapid development of technology and social media, we enjoy the luxury of unlimited and boundless communication. However, this advancement is often misused; instead of becoming a means of unity and progress, it has become an occasion for gossip, slander, and fake news—leading to division, violence, and even wars. This alarming reality should move us to reflect on how we can use communication as a force for goodness rather than destruction.

To rediscover the true purpose of communication, we must return to its spiritual roots—back to the Giver of this gift—and learn from Him the sacred power of communication: the power to create, to heal, and to transform.

Communication is a Call to Create and Build

When God spoke, everything came into being! The book of Genesis tells us that God is the initiator of communication through a dialogue with creation. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Creation responded to the words spoken by God. His words created, bringing everything into order and harmony.

Communication, in its truest sense, is meant to create something good. It is meant to build trust and community, and to bring about harmony, goodness, and beauty. When we are faithful to our words, we can truly experience their creative power.

This invites us to reflect: When we communicate, what do we create or build? Do our words foster trust, friendship, and goodness, or do they destroy trust, harmony, and unity?

Communication is a Means to Express Love

When God spoke, people were healed! The Gospels recount the miracles of Jesus—God’s works of love. He said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8), and the paralyzed man walked. “Be opened” (Mark 7:34), and the deaf man heard. “Talitha koum” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) (Mark 5:41), and the dead girl rose. The words of Jesus were always filled with love, carrying the power to heal and even bring the dead back to life.

Out of His great love for humanity, “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14) to show us how to love. God’s Word is love itself, and when He speaks, we truly experience His love. In Jesus, we learn that communication exists as a means to express our love for God and for one another. Words have the power to heal and to save.

This leads us to reflect: Do we communicate to express love, or do we use our words to hurt and destroy one another?

Communication Must Be Spirit-Filled

When God speaks, lives are transformed! The Acts of the Apostles tells us that on the day of Pentecost, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). Upon receiving the Spirit, the disciples were filled with joy and boldly proclaimed the Good News to all nations. The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to become true witnesses of Jesus. From being ordinary followers who were fearful and hesitant, they became courageous proclaimers and communicators of Christ’s love. Their lives were transformed by cooperating with the Spirit, and their words bore fruit.

Because of this Spirit-filled communication, “many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43). They healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the lame walk, cast out demons, and even brought the dead back to life. The transformation of the apostles shows us that the message we are called to communicate is a life transformed by the Spirit.

This challenges us to reflect: What message do we communicate to others? Is it the witness of a life renewed and transformed by the Spirit, or a life still bound by fear, pride, and selfishness?

 Words That Give Life

Communication is more than just the exchange of words—it is a sacred act. It has the power to create, to heal, and to transform. Yet, as we see in our world today, words can also destroy, divide, and wound.

As bearers of God’s gift of communication, we are called to choose wisely the words we speak and the way we listen. May our communication, like God’s Word, be life-giving: creating harmony, expressing love, and bearing witness to the Spirit who transforms us.

In the end, every word we utter carries power. The question is: Will our words bring light or darkness, peace or conflict, life or death?