Daily Catholic Lectio. Tue, 11 March ’25. The Word of God

Daily Catholic Lectio

Tue, 11 March ‘25

First Week of Lent – Tuesday

Isaiah 55:10-11. Psalm 34. Matthew 6:7-15

The Word of God

In Hebrew, the word for “word” is “davar.” Interestingly, this same word also means “deed” or “action.” So, in biblical thought, word and action are inseparable. What does this mean? A word must become an action.

God’s Word never returns empty

In today’s first reading, Isaiah speaks about the power of God’s word: Just as rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, God’s word never returns without bringing transformation.

For example, if I say, “I will arrive at 8 o’clock,” If I arrive on time, my words become action. If I don’t, my words are empty.

In today’s world, the use of words is enormous. With a prompt AI can produce millions of words. On the other had, we also have limited the use of words by beginning to use emojis and stickers. 

The right way to pray

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples not to babble like the pagans, who believe that more words make a prayer better.

Instead, He teaches them how to pray simply – giving them the Lord’s Prayer, a model of short yet meaningful words.

Prayer must become action

When we look at today’s Gospel in the light of the first reading, we realize an important lesson: Every word we pray must become an action, or else it remains empty.

For example, when we say: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” If I cannot forgive my enemies, my words are empty.

Lessons for our lives

(a) Let our words be like God’s word—full of action. Our words should not remain empty but be fulfilled in our lives.

(b) Speak less, with meaning. The Wisdom books remind us: “The more we speak, the less impact our words have.”

(c) Let the Word we read become the Word we live. When Scripture transforms us, we become the living Word of God.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy