The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.
The “word of God” has multiple meanings within Christianity, so this Gospel acclamation can also take on more than one sense. Ultimately, of course, the Word of God is Jesus Christ Himself, the one Word spoken by the Father from all eternity. He always was; He is now; and He will always be living. He is, as He says, “the life.” And He is fully effective in atoning for our sins and drawing us back to the Father. He discerns the reflections and thoughts of our hearts better than we do, and He will tell us all about them if only we open our hearts and minds to Him in prayer.
Yet the “word of God” also refers to the Sacred Scriptures. These, too, are living, for the Holy Spirit continues to work through the words that He has inspired. When we read the Bible with faith, seeking understanding with an open mind and heart, the Holy Spirit will guide us into truth. In the Scriptures, Dei Verbum tells us, “the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them” (#21). God's message in the Bible teaches us about ourselves. It opens up the secrets of our hearts. It helps us discern where we are in our journey to God. It nudges us toward repentance and toward a deeper love of God.
Indeed, the word of God, both the Word Himself and the words He has spoken, is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.
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