Thursday, August 21 : Baldwin of Ford

God is living and effective, more piercing than any two-edged sword”(Heb 4:12).What greatness of power, what wealth of wisdom in the Word of God is shown by these words of the Apostle to those that seek Christ, who is himself the word, the power, and the wisdom of God. In the beginning, this word was with God, coeternal with him (Jn 1:1); in his time he was revealed to the prophets, proclaimed by them, and received humbly in the faith of his believing people… The Word of God is living, and the Father granted to him that he should have life in himself as the Father has life in himself (Jn 5:26). On this account, he is not only living but he is life, as he says of himself: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:16). Because he is life, he lives in such a way that he is able to give life, for “as the Father raises up the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he will” (Jn 5:21). He gives life when he calls Lazarus from the tomb and says: “Come forth!” (Jn 11:43). When this word is proclaimed, the voice of him who proclaims it gives to the voice which is heard outwardly the voice of power which is heard inwardly, and it is by this voice that life is given to the dead and, by awakening faith, raises up true children to Abraham (Mt 3:9). This word, therefore, is living in the heart of the Father, living in the mouth of him who proclaims it, and living in the heart of him who believes and loves it.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team