"if i had a hammer"
"[My word] shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it." —Isaiah 55:11
Many pray the rosary regularly in front of abortion mills. The rosary is a Scriptural prayer from today's Gospel reading (Mt 6:9-13) and also from Luke 1:42. As these intercessors pray the word of God, they wield His word like a weapon. In Cincinnati, the long-term faithful prayers of these prayer-warriors has resulted in the closing of one abortion mill on several Saturdays each month.
God's word is a means to victory. Jesus used God's word to defeat the devil in the desert (Mt 4:4, 7, 10). "Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, like a hammer shattering rocks?" (Jer 23:29) "Indeed, God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb 4:12). The word of God gets the job done; it always achieves His purpose (Is 55:11). God's word can't be stopped (2 Tm 2:9; Mk 4:26-29).
One of the purposes of this booklet, One Bread, One Body, is to teach and encourage Catholics, and anyone else, to read, pray, study, live, teach, and wield God's word for victory, particularly in the context of Holy Mass. You are disciples of Jesus, the Word (Jn 1:1, 14). Therefore, "speak God's word with confidence" (Acts 4:31). "Spread" the Word of God "with influence and power" (Acts 19:20).
Prayer: Jesus, I dedicate myself to sowing Your word (Mk 4:3ff).
Promise: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." —Mt 6:8
Praise: Veronica has had her needs met by the Lord's providence for over twenty years while volunteering full-time for Presentation Ministries.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(For teaching about using God's word as a weapon, order our book How to Teach the Bible. You can also order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 14, 2007
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