THE WORD OF GOD IN ACTION
Communication is a two-way street; God wants to hear our words, too!... "Are
you not occupied with Christ? Why do you not talk with Him? By reading the
Scriptures, we listen to Christ." (Ambrose)
God's Word has
power to change and transform us! Isaiah says that God's Word is like the rain
and the snow that make the barren ground spring to life and become abundantly
fertile (cf. Is 55:10 - 11). It has power to penetrate our dry, barren hearts,
and make them springs of new life. If God's Word takes root in our hearts, it
will transform us into His likeness. Ambrose, a fourth century Church Father,
wrote that the reason we should devote time for reading Scripture is to hear
Christ speak to us. "Are you not occupied with Christ? Why do you not talk
with Him? By reading the Scriptures, we listen to Christ."
The power of
speech, or communication, is one of the most wonderful gifts that God has given
us. Through our words, we can tell others our thoughts and feelings, our hopes
and our joys. What we say to others in words can completely change their
attitude toward us and establish a new relationship. We need to remember that
communication is a two-way street; God wants to hear our words, too! Words
spoken to God are a prayer. Simple words are best. Words like: "I love
You," "I need You," "I'd do anything for You." This
simplicity in prayer is what Jesus had in mind when He said, "In prayer,
do not babble like the pagans" (Mt 6:7). Jesus gave us a model for prayer,
the Our Father. This doesn't mean that the words of the Our Father are the only
ones we should use. It is the spirit behind those words that matters the most,
a spirit of simplicity, directness and sincerity.
Words are
wonderful, especially the Word of God. We must listen to that Word and put it
into action. This can only happen when we have given it great attention and
reflection. Our words will also be wonderful if we pray in the way Jesus taught
us.
All we need to do
is be real with "Our Father!"