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Friday, August 17, 2012

Steeped in the Word

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

He is really present with us in the Eucharist.

He dwells in us in grace.

And he speaks, he is in his word. 

Sacred Scripture, interpreted by the Church, makes real the Word of God to us. So, as a part of the "training" required to know God's will for your life, spend time with him in his word. Read it, come to know it, pray with it, be steeped in it.

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in clarity and detail the understanding we hold of the inspiration and truth of Sacred Scripture in paragraphs 101 - 119.  In pondering the Word of God, we come to know him: the Way, the Truth, the Life - our Way, our Truth, our Life. So taking time each day to pray with Scripture is an essential exercise as you discern.

How to pray the Bible?

Read it. Get a good Bible and take time with it. You don't have to start at the beginning. Start with the Gospels or the Psalms. Move through the text as you are led to it.

Study it. (There are excellent resources for Catholics who want to deepen their understanding of the texts.)

Meditate on it. Ponder the word, taste it. Spend time thinking about it. Imagine it.

Contemplate it. Ask the Lord to speak. And give him the time and silence to do so.

Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.