Spread the Word

Today’s first reading is a beautiful one.

For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

An important lesson to be gained from this passage is the perfect effectiveness of the word of God, especially the word of God in Scripture (effective in achieving God’s purposes, not necessarily our own or even what we personally think his purposes may be).

It is therefore important for us to be ever more effective in helping to spread that word.

Sometimes this can be done explicitly, quoting chapter and verse with the obvious purpose of evangelization.

Many times it is best done subtly. Sometimes it is best when it is not even deliberate.

A way to do this is to develop the habit of soaking ourselves in the word of God, taking advantage of every opportunity to read the word and to hear it (even if only on tape in the background as we get ready in the morning).

If we let the word of God permeate us, it will flow more naturally from us: gently falling all around us, achieving the end for which God sends it.