In Scene II of Act II of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark sits in a library, reading a book when, Polonius, the King’s chief counselor asks the melancholy prince, “What do you read, my lord?” Hamlet says, “words, words, words.” Of course, Polonius wants to know what Hamlet is reading about, the meaning of the words in the book. Hamlet suggests that the words he is reading are meaningless to him.
In Isaiah we heard how God’s word is anything but meaningless. God’s word comes forth from his mouth and fulfills the end for which He sent it. The letter to the Hebrews says “God’s word is powerful and effective”.
This evokes two images. First, God’s word in Holy Scripture. When we hear the words of Scripture, they are meant to sink into our soul. God’s word challenges us, corrects us, encourages us, transforms us, and brings forth new life in us. The Bible is not just a decoration for one’s coffee table, it’s meant to be read.
It’s a wonderful Lenten practice, or practice for any time of year, to sit meditatively and reflectively with a small passage of Scripture: to study it, to let it sink in, to think about what it means for the Christian life, what it means for your life.
God’s word fulfills the end for which he sent it: to bring new life. And this of course also points to the Word Made Flesh, Jesus Christ: Faithful to His Father in all things who brings new and eternal life.
When asked to teach his disciples how to pray, Jesus teaches that prayer isn’t just about multiplying meaningless words, prayer isn’t about babbling. Rather he gives us a key to his own heart, when he teaches us the Our Father.
The whole mission of the Word-made-flesh is wrapped up with this prayer: the glorification of the Father’s name, the surrender to his Holy Will, the giving of daily bread, the forgiveness of sins, and the deliverance from evil.
To pray the Our Father devoutly is to seek to become like the Word-made-flesh Himself: to seek God’s will and God’s glory above all things, to be faithful to God in all things.
If we are ever lost about how we are to pray, we should pray the Our Father very slowly and meditatively, and allow God’s word to speak to Our Heart.
May our hearts always be open to the power and effective word of God, that they may be transformed into hearts like Christ’s for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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