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.

No creature is concealed from him,
but everything
is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.

Do we let Scripture challenge us? Or do we try to blunt its impact with our own rationalizations or intellectualizations?

Today's readings invite us
to tear away the veils of familiarity,
to shake off the cobwebs of selfishness,
to tune out the noise of the world,
and to hear the word of the Lord.