5/31/23

“Abracadabra!” 

You don’t see magicians using magic words anymore. When I was a kid, magicians would shout “Presto chango!” as they turned handkerchiefs into flowers, or would intone “hocus pocus,” as they waved a magic wand, then pulled a rabbit out of a hat.  

J.K. Rowling gave us some fun ones in her Harry Potter books - but those are fun little twists on everyday words. To make a feather float you could say “Wingardium leviosa” (now, is that pronounced levioSA or is it leviOsa? I forget)  or make someone totally freeze with “Petrificus Totalus.” But those are just made up Latin-sounding words.  

But abracadabra is a real word (or actually two real words) that have been around for nearly 2,000 years . . . and maybe even longer. It was used for 17 centuries as a power to cure. If you were sick, according to Sammonicus’ Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies (written around AD 200), you would write the word out over and over, each time with one less letter, until it formed a triangle. Then you’d wear that triangle as an amulet around your neck and  it would eventually siphon away whatever illness you had. 

It took 1700 years, but someone finally figured out that it didn’t work. By the 18th century, it had slipped from medicine to magic, becoming a favorite word used by magicians as they pulled coins out of kids’ ears or whatever (I know you’re wondering, but I promise there’s a point to all this).  

Now here’s where it gets interesting: the origin of the word seems to date back to at least New Testament times. It is believed to have come from a Hebrew phrase:  a’bra ke’da’bra, meaning “I will create as I speak.”  You can hear some echos of Genesis one, can’t you, of God speaking things into existence: “Let there be . . .”  and “it was so.” (Tadah! I told you there’s a point to all this)

But wait! There’s more!

The Jews believed you could think anything you wanted, and it was okay, but once you actually said it out loud, that word was not like a sound that fades, but instead was like a solid object that lasted. Abracadabra. “I will create as I speak,” the Hebrew phrase says. Speaking a word was like creating something. In fact, the Hebrew dabar (you can see it in the d’bra part) means both “word” and “thing.” 

This explains a sometimes baffling bit of scripture in Genesis 27; Isaac was an old man with failing eyesight. As he approached death, he knew it was time to give his blessing to his eldest son, Esau. Jacob, the younger son, deceived his father, and Isaac gave Jacob the blessing instead. When Esau came to Isaac to get his final blessing, there was none to give!  Isaac had blessed Jacob, and that was that. 

You might read that passage (Genesis 27) and wonder why Isaac can’t just say, “do-over!” and give his blessing to the correct son. But he can’t! Once he’d given his blessing, he couldn’t take it back. It existed, hanging out in the air until it came to pass. For the Jews, once the word was spoken – good or evil –  it was a thing that couldn’t be taken back.

Frankly, I think it’s an interesting concept. If people still believed it, I think they’d be more careful with what they said. You wouldn’t slander someone or curse someone (well, I hope you wouldn’t) because your words would be as real as the laptop I’m typing on. And once spoken they couldn’t be taken back.

Although we don’t believe that words are things, we do have magic words that are very effective. Abracadabra might not really work, nor “hocus pocus” (which also comes from a real Latin phrase, but you can look that one up yourselves), nor “Presto!” (which is Italian for “Quickly!”). 

But we all do have words that can magically open doors for us, make people smile and even restore broken relationships. Not necessarily magic words, but certainly simple ones: Please. Thank you.  I’m sorry. I love you. It’s kind of amazing when you think that by the time you’re Olive’s age you’ve learned the most essential vocabulary of life! 

And it's the vocabulary of “Loving God . . . Loving Others.” If you struggle with prayer, remember and use this basic, simple vocabulary: I love you, I’m sorry, please, and thank you. If you struggle with relationships with others, use these same simple words. 

Not impressive, but simple. Not magical, but certainly powerful! 

Blessings,
Pastor Terry