word-work
"Take heed, therefore, how you hear." —Luke 8:18
Many Catholics in our culture have been conditioned to passively hear God's word and be mere spectators at Mass. However, the Lord calls His word "seed" (Lk 8:11) and ourselves "ground." Any farmer knows that ground is full of life, that is, organisms, nutrients, chemical processes, etc. We not only work the ground, but the ground works on anything in it — from graves to seeds. We are the ground. We work on and with the seed of God's word. We are to be very active in relationship to God's word.
God's word is also like light (see Ps 119:105). Our job is to put the light on the lampstand of our lives so as to give light to all in the house (Lk 8:16). Once again, we are to do something with God's word or lose the light (see Lk 8:18).
Receiving God's word is similar to patronizing a "drive-through" window. We hear, read, or study God's word specifically to pick up something, carry it out, and take it home or to work or to the streets. Actively work on, work with, put forth, take out, and give out God's word.
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to make me a servant and messenger of Your word.
Promise: "When He is dealing with the arrogant, He is stern, but to the humble He shows kindness." —Prv 3:34
Praise: Elizabeth has been faithful to her Bible Study for ten years.
Reference: (Give out God's Word by teaching the Bible. Order our audio or video tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our eight tape audio series starts with AV 5A-1. Our four part video series starts with V-5A.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 7, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 12, 2002