Just say the magic words! More than one fairy tale implies that if a person says the right syllables something miraculous will happen. Often the magic words are unintelligible, but it makes no difference. The right sounds will produce the right results whether a person understands the words or not.

When we hear about the power of God's Word, we are sometimes tempted to think that if we go through the right motions and make the right sounds certain results will magically happen. But "saying the magic words" is much different than the supernatural working of the means of grace.

THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED SO OTHERS UNDERSTAND IT

The means of grace work supernaturally because God's power works through them in a unique way to make believers out of unbelievers. The gospel is God's power for salvation (Romans 1:16). God "chose to give us birth through the word of truth" (James 1:18). By nature we are spiritually dead, but we are born again through water and the Spirit (John 3:5,6). The message of salvation seems like foolishness to us and to everyone else by nature, but God leads us to believe it (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). Through the means of grace, he takes people who are hostile to him by nature (Romans 8:7,8) and makes them his children (Galatians 3:26,27).

Nevertheless, the means of grace does not work magically. God has condescended to reveal his plan of salvation in human language. God's Word has meaning. His words are not empty syllables that we mumble as if they were some hocus-pocus or magical incantation. Rather, God has directed his Word toward the human mind in language that can be understood. God's Word is not the outer shell of the syllables or sounds that are made but the meaning in those words. We do not preach in Greek or Hebrew, the languages of the Bible, but we translate those words into languages that people can understand. We convey the meaning to them. That is God's Word.

As St. Paul explains: "Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me" (1 Corinthians 14:6-11).