33rd Week in OT 2020 - Friday - The Sweetness of God's Word

 A few years ago, Pope Francis dedicated the third Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Word of God Sunday”. A day in which the Church was to consider the importance of the Word of God in our lives and to consider ways of making the Scriptures part of our everyday life.

Reflecting on the Scriptures, the holy father writes, we will be able to strive daily to embody and bear witness to their teachings.

The readings for this day contain a sort of reflection upon the word of God. Taking and swallowing the scroll in the first reading, St. John finds the words “sweet as honey” initially, but also a little troubling to the stomach. Also, in the Psalm, we hear the psalmist praise God for his word, God’s law is more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces”, his promises are sweeter to his palate” than “honey to my mouth”.

And in the Gospel, there were crowds of people who found the words of Jesus compelling and intriguing, the crowd was “hanging on his every word” while the his enemies, found them bitter, and conspired to silence the word, putting him to death. They rejected the word of God that seeks to purify, casting out evil from our lives, just like he purified the Temple, casting out that which did not belong in the Temple of God.

Why does the Psalmist describe the word of God as sweet? The word of God refreshes the soul. Reading it and reflecting upon it in dark times, in challenging times, we are enlightened by it, comforted by it. We encounter God’s promises as they give us hope, that what we suffer in this life for his sake shall be rewarded in the life to come, that the coldness in this earthly life will be replaced with this warmth of God’s embrace in eternity. 

God’s word, upon reflection, can also be somewhat bitter, in that, we soon come to discover that it challenges us to change, to give up our sinful attachments, and to bear the cross in union Christ. 

Pope Francis writes “The sweetness of God’s word leads us to share it with all those whom we encounter in this life and to proclaim the sure hope that it contains. Its bitterness, in turn, often comes from our realization of how difficult it is to live that word consistently, or our personal experience of seeing it rejected as meaningless for life. We should never take God’s word for granted, but instead let ourselves be nourished by it, in order to acknowledge and live fully our relationship with him and with our brothers and sisters.”

In the encounter of the sweet word of God, may we be generous in sharing it with others, drawing others to God, that they may become Temples of his Spirit, and may we generously allow the Word of God to purify our lives of all that is selfish or sinful, that we may radiate God’s goodness ever more effectively for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may undertake the meditation and prayer necessary to live holy and righteous lives. 

For a healing of all family divisions, reunion for the estranged and welcoming of the alienated. 

That those who have fallen away from the Church or fallen into serious sin may repent and return to the grace of the Sacraments. 

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, the unemployed, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.