the sword for the wall
"God's word is living and effective." —Hebrews 4:12
Many of us have constructed mammoth walls of opposition to God's will. Through sin and selfishness, we have surrounded ourselves with a prison, and made it humanly impossible for us to break out.
Then "the heavens were opened, and...a white horse appeared; its Rider was called 'The Faithful and True' " (Rv 19:11). "Out of His mouth came a sharp sword" (Rv 19:15; 1:16). "God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart" (Heb 4:12). Jesus, the eternal, incarnate Word (see Jn 1:14), Who wields the word in the Church and her Bible, will touch the walls of our sin-prison, and the walls will crumble.
Then the Lord gives us "the sword of the Spirit, the word of God" (Eph 6:17). We go forth to touch others' prison walls. They too crumble (see Jos 6:20), and the captives are freed.
Let Jesus' words pierce, penetrate, judge, and free you. Proclaim God's word to bring down the walls of sin and to free the prisoners. "God's word is living and effective" (Heb 4:12).
Prayer: Father, use this book, One Bread, One Body, as a sword which makes walls crumble.
Promise: "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need." —Heb 4:16
Praise: The Schaffers broke down the wall of division on their marriage relationship by repeatedly reading together the Old Testament book of the Song of Songs.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, June 11, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 20, 1998