Picture this as vividly as you can: Joints are where two bones meet. They consist of cartilage and ligaments. These strong fibrous tissues allow bones to move while supporting the body. Within bones, there is marrow, the spongy substance that contains both red blood cells, that carry life-giving oxygen to the lungs, and white blood cells that fight infection.
Why the quick anatomy review? To paint the imagery used in the passage from Hebrews:
The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
Powerful imagery, right? Why mention these specific body parts? Because that is the reality of how close, how practical, how deeply our Heavenly Father wants to penetrate our lives. The word of God is all of Scripture, inspired by the Author of Life. It is not simply words written on a page. It is powerful and bursting with life! The Responsorial Psalm echoes this truth: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
His Word can cut through any shell, the cartilage and the bone, and go straight to the marrow. What might our Lord want us to understand?
His Words have the power to both reveal and transform. No wound, no sin, no darkness, no evil are a match against the power of the Word of God. It pierces through all the walls and sinful strongholds that can enshroud our hearts and minds. It reveals our true nature, our vulnerability. It also calls us to action!
What action? How do we respond?
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. (Heb 4: 16)
We need to come humbly, without fear, to the throne room. Our King, our loving Father, is waiting and wanting to help us, to supply every grace we need. He is merciful and wants to lavish us with His gifts. This, my brothers and sisters, is a call to committed, unrelenting daily prayer. Here in this throne room is where we come to understand our weaknesses and receive the grace to know our Father is strong enough to meet every weakness and empower us to do things we never imagined possible.
Is this not what happened to Matthew (Levi) in the gospel passage today? There he sat at the customs post, going about his day, when two words cut straight to his heart: Follow me.
Matthew’s response was immediate. All his years of sin and hardness of heart did not hinder him. That is the effectiveness and power and mercy all present in the Word of God! Oh, that we may come to an ever deepening understanding of His bountiful mercy!
Our Lord says to us, too, today: Follow me.
Let us allow these words to penetrate through the toughness of our defenses and sin.
Let us invite it to penetrate to our core. Listen closely: Follow me.
Having spent time in the throne room of prayer, respond today as Matthew did. Get up! Go confidently! Seek Christ in every situation and in every person. He is ever present and always waiting for you. By ever- increasing reliance on the power of His Word, you too, will accomplish and witness things you never thought possible!
[Readings: Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 15, Mark 2: 13-17]
My brother saved this weblog for me and I have been reading through it for the past couple hrs. This is really going to benefit me and my classmates for our class project. By the way, I like the way you write. http://www.piano.m106.com
This is a good subject to talk about. Sometimes I fav stuff like this on Redit. This article probably wont do well with that crowd. I will be sure to submit something else though.
One of my favourite sites now, bookmarked for future use
So glad this site is source of strength and inspiration to walk closer with God each day!