Sometimes it’s only when something is taken away from us that we begin to see how precious it was. What, for instance, do you think would happen if every copy of the Bible were to disappear overnight? How would we teach our children about God’s love? How would we be able to understand God’s purposes in this world? Where would we turn for guidance and clarity in our lives?
Consider what St. John tells us in today’s first reading: “If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). John is saying that when we let the word of God—what we “heard from the beginning”—soak into us, we “remain” in the Son and the Father. We actually find our life in the very life of the Trinity! Our minds, our hearts, and our actions change to reflect Jesus and his ways.
Shortly after he became pope, Blessed John Paul II visited Poland, which was still under Communist rule. On the last day of his visit, during an outdoor Mass attended by approximately two million people, the pope extended his hands over everyone there and quoted Scripture: ”Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). He went on: “I speak, too, from St. Paul: Do not quench the Spirit. I speak again from St. Paul: Do not grieve the Spirit. You must be strong, my brothers and sisters! You must be strong with the strength that faith gives you (1 Corinthians 16:13)… . Do not be defeated. Do not be discouraged (Joshua 1:9). Never detach yourselves from him (Romans 8:35).”
These words—all taken from Scripture—imparted a measure of hope and strength to the Polish people that far surpassed anyone’s expectations. As a result, a movement was born that ultimately led to the defeat of Communism, not just in Poland but throughout the Soviet Union.
There is no telling what can happen when we immerse ourselves in the word of God. All it takes is a few minutes a day of reading and meditating on a passage in Scripture. The Holy Spirit will bring these words to life, and our hearts will be changed!
“Father, teach me to remain in your word so that I can bear great fruit for your kingdom.”
Psalm 98:1-4; John 1:19-28