“All the people were hanging on his words.” (Luke 19:48)
Isn’t it amazing? Jesus’ enemies were hunting him like hawks circling their prey, but they couldn’t find an opportunity to strike because of his many followers. The people listened intently to Jesus, “hanging on his words” (Luke 19:48).
People didn’t hang onto Jesus’ words just because he was a great orator. Rather, his appeal came from the fact that he spoke with authority. He, the Word of God, spoke the words of God and made them “living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus often relied on the word of God in Hebrew Scripture to refute his enemies. Just think of all the different times he began a saying with “It is written” (Luke 19:46; Matthew 4:4,7,10; Mark 7:6; John 8:17).
Don’t we all have “enemies” lurking in our hearts and minds, trying to overpower and banish Jesus from our lives? Don’t we all have interior closets filled with doubts, resentments, and other powerful temptations that would prefer to stay locked up? Fortunately, we have a weapon at hand to defeat these enemies: Scripture overcomes the lies of the devil and the tug of the fallen nature.
This is why reading the Bible on a daily basis can be a powerful tool. Committing a few lines to memory and recalling them at key moments of anxiety, anger, or doubt during the day can help us to deal a gradual death blow to these enemies. Recalling prayers of confidence in the psalms or words of comfort in the Gospels can also help us build our lives on the secure foundations of hope and trust so that we are not as prone to the negative emotions that the world so often wants to draw out of us.
While we can’t take all of Scripture in at once, it is helpful to have your own user-friendly Bible and start with the daily Mass readings or one of the Gospels. Underline or write down a few lines that touch a chord in you. Then place these quotes someplace prominent in your home as small reminders of God’s powerful presence. Over time, you will find more and more strength over your enemies!
“Jesus, I marvel at the power of your word! Grant me a deeper thirst for Scripture so that I can grow in wisdom and confidence.”
Revelation 10:8-11; Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131