God still speaks. In the Scriptures we encounter more than ancient words. We meet the living Christ, who continues to invite us: "Come to me." Discover how reading and praying the Word of God can deepen your friendship with him.
"Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)
Come to Me
In a world crowded with voices, God still speaks. Not usually in dramatic signs or extraordinary visions, but through his Word. The Scriptures are not simply ancient religious writings. They are the living record of God's love for his people and of his continuing conversation with humankind.
We believe that this love found its fullest expression when Jesus said:
"Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest."
Those words were first spoken two thousand years ago, yet they have lost none of their power. Whenever we open the Scriptures with faith, Christ speaks them anew. The invitation is personal. It is addressed to each of us.
One of the most practical and life-giving ways of accepting that invitation is through reading and praying the Word of God.
Encountering the Living Word
The Bible itself came into being through many centuries of prayer, memory, prophecy, worship, and faithful witness. Long before these words were written down, God's saving presence was already being experienced among his people. Sacred Scripture preserves that living history and places it within our reach.
Yet reading the Bible is not the same as reading a newspaper or a history book. We turn to Scripture not simply for information, but for an encounter with the living God. We open its pages believing that God has something to say to us today.
The Church has long cherished a prayerful way of reading Scripture known as Lectio Divina, or "Sacred Reading". We read slowly and attentively. A word or phrase may touch the heart. We pause, reflect, pray, and rest quietly in God's presence.
In this way the Scriptures become more than words on a page. They become a meeting place between Christ and the one who seeks him.
Receiving the Word
The prophet Isaiah assures us:
"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose." (Isaiah 55:11)
As we read and pray the Scriptures, God's Word gradually takes root within us. It shapes our minds, forms our hearts, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to Christ.
Before we can share God's Word with others, we must first learn to receive it ourselves. We listen. We pray. We allow the living Word to speak within us.
In responding to Jesus' invitation, "Come to me," we discover that Scripture is more than something to be read. It is God's way of drawing us into friendship with his Son.
Prayer before Reading the Word of God
Lord Jesus,
you invite me to come to you.
As I open the Scriptures, open my heart as well.
Help me to listen attentively to your voice,
to receive your Word with faith,
and to respond with generosity.
When a passage challenges me, give me courage.
When a passage comforts me, give me gratitude.
When a passage calls me forward, give me trust.
May your living Word take root in my heart,
draw me closer to you,
and shape my life according to your will.
Amen.