Yes, Or No? That Is The Question.

Dan Doyle

Years ago, a few of my English Department colleagues and I were having a vigorous and enjoyable conversation about language, specifically about power and the proper use of words to promote clarity of thought and precision of meaning. I had just been invited to give that year’s university-wide, annual “Last Lecture,” and this conversation proved very helpful in preparing for it. The faculty member chosen for this always-challenging, entertaining, and often inspiring ‘lecture’ is allowed to imagine what words he or she might want to share with the assembled students and faculty at the culmination of one’s career.

In that conversation, one of the faculty members asked what seemed a frivolous, rhetorical question: “What was the word that God spoke that engendered the Creation?” He answered his own question, suggesting that the word was “Yes!” Of course, we were using the English language, but the meaning of “yes” is the same no matter the language. That small word’s single syllable is the most affirming, door-opening, opportunity-offering word in any language. I was taken by that thought, and I went away from that conversation thinking more about it. I was moved to contemplate this question: What is the difference between God’s “yes” and ours? Oughtn’t ours be an echo of God’s yes? The following are some of my own musings on it.

Somehow the thought of God shouting a joyful, life-engendering YES struck a chord in my own heart and mind. God has spoken his YES over and over again, and through that word everything seen and unseen in the entirety of the universe came into being, in its order and in its proper time. And we are told in Genesis that with the completion of each new element of his Creation, he looked upon it and declared that “It was good” (Gen. 1:25). That divine YES is still being spoken in all that is good, true, and beautiful. God’s YES is spoken in all of those who, in wonder and awe, have come to believe in him; in all who have surrendered to him with their own, “Yes! Lord, I believe.” It comes to each in the form of life-affirming, soul-strengthening, love-enlivening grace. God’s YES is faithful, always and forever. In truth, though, we know that living this faithful “yes” is and has always been the greatest challenge before us as human persons.

Jesus himself challenges us in our own use of the words, “yes” and “no,” especially in matters of truth and the vows we make to the Lord: “Let your “Yes” mean “Yes,” and your “No” mean “No.” Anything more is from the evil one” (Mt. 5:37). To know and to speak the truth, the truth of the Gospel, is to say Yes to it. To lie, to deny the truth, or to manipulate the truth, for improper purposes, is to say “No!” to the God who is the source and goal of all that is true and good. It is to say “No” to the one who spoke the unique, individual you into being in your mother’s womb with an exultant and ever faithful, “YES!”

For a Christian, to say “no” to the Word of God, that divine YES spoken into the world in the flesh by the Father, who suffered, died, and with a resounding YES, rose again to redeem us from all of the negative consequences of our repeated and arrogant “No’s,” can only be called the height of foolishness. Such foolishness belongs only to the evil one, the “Prince of No.” The wise say “Yes” to God and “No” to the evil one. It is in saying “yes” to God that we find our true and lasting joy.

With all of this in mind, let us pray: Word of Creation, teach us to reverence all that your YES has brought into being. Word of Salvation, teach us to say Yes to the work of service to those who are in need in any way. Word of Life, teach us to willingly and joyfully live ever more faithfully in accord with your word. We pray in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.