Life is so full of paradox and contradiction. One that ‘stumps’ me is that the Word of God is, essentially, the person of Jesus; if we listen to it and put it into practice, we will receive ‘Life’ to the full. Yet, for many Christians, the Word of God is just something that belongs to the ‘boring’ Bible, is anything but ‘cool’, and basically has no effect. Far from being a ‘Word of Life’, it is a sterile thing. What a paradox!

Young people working with Animate Volunteers

Regarding the Word of God, we always seem to get it so wrong. It is not simply an intellectual exercise teaching us the meanings and interpretations of scripture and its life-giving powers; rather it is a part of life itself – all that makes up our lives. The Word of God is the one ‘through whom everything exists’, so our thoughts, our feelings, our affections, our worries and everything else, good and bad, easy or difficult that we encounter, are all included. To be able to interpret these human things, and act then in a fully human way, we need to live as we are created. We human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, so if we ignore God, we are not being human, and, we ignore God if we do not know the scriptures. It is through the scriptures, the written Word of God, that we can interpret those human experiences. 

Last month I was living for the whole month – along with millions of others over the world, and with many specific friends in our country – the Word: “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you”, (Jn 6: 27). It is wonderful to take a small extract from the scriptures, yes, the Word of God, for a whole month. In every little word in the scripture, the whole Word of God is present, i.e. Jesus. It means I can digest the meaning in small ‘chunks’ as I live his Word; he becomes alive in me, and in my relationships, when I make the Word real. 

About two weeks ago, I went to visit the ‘Animate Group’ at Lowe House, St. Helens. The Group is a team of young people who work with Fr. Simon Gore, a diocesan priest, to ‘animate’ Catholic Youth throughout the diocese, and beyond, in their relationships with God. It was a simple evening. We ate together, with simple fun, chat and laughter, and I was able to ask them some questions, and find out more about who the young ones were, and why they had volunteered for this work.

Leyland young person, Natasha Lee, commissioned as a Minister for Holy Communion

What intrigued me – as ever – was how easy it was, to make friends and share with them. I asked one, a leader called Fergus, if he had found that their experience of trying to help young people, in schools and parishes, to know and love God, had helped him. “Definitely”, was his straightforward reply. In other words, who are the real beneficiaries of the ‘Animate Experience’? The answer must be, both the young the team serve, and the team. A further question could be, “Who gets the most benefit?” I think the answer may not devolve, on the masses of young people, the team visit. 

The same question might be asked of mums and dads, of teachers and their pupils, of priests and parishioners. Who benefits the most from their lives? Certainly, for that evening, I think I benefitted much more, seeing this group of dedicated young Catholics, aged probably 20 to 25, with their priest, than they benefitted from me.

 Young people working away at a project with Animate – a reciprocal experience

 When we live the Gospel, we always receive, as well as give. It is the nature of life – the essence of the Word of God. To know Jesus, we must know the scriptures and make them real, let them live, let Jesus be alive. It is not a dry, intellectual exercise that would lead, inevitably, to the sterile boredom of those who do not know God – and do not want to know. Rather, it is an affair of life, of the heart. 

Jesus gives us the ‘Food’ that endures for ‘Eternal Life’, and that means he gives ‘Himself’. Living in, and among, us He forges with us, and for us, new friendships, and we have the benefit of his presence. We are invited to live with Him, now and forever. 

N.B. If anyone wants to live the new “Word of Life” of this coming month, then it is: “For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mt 13,12). A commentary that I find most helpful, on this text can be found on our St. Mary’s Website under the tag “Bulletin”. Click on that and find the drop down menu including “Word of Life”.

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